Srinagar, July 23:
The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has busted a major corruption racket involving manipulation of revenue records, arresting four individuals and launching a manhunt for three others, including a serving Tehsildar.
The case, registered under FIR No. 14/2025 on July 9, includes serious charges under Sections 167, 420, 120-B of the RPC and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Svt. 2006). Investigations revealed an organized network of revenue officials and private individuals involved in cheating, false mutations and illegal insertions in land records, causing huge financial losses to the public, particularly in Srinagar and Budgam districts.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, Nowgam Srinagar, Mohammad Shafi Lone alias Shaff Cheeni, Peerbagh Srinagar, Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather, Padshahi Bagh Srinagar, Shabir Ahmad Wani, Bagandar Lasjan.
Meanwhile, Tehsildar Nusrat Aziz, a key accused in the case, is on the run after her bail plea was rejected by the Special Anti-Corruption Court, Srinagar.
Sources say she is also named in four other FIRs, two each under Crime Branch and ACB Kashmir.
Two more individuals, Ashiq Ali (then Patwari, Balhama) and Shamima Akhter, are also absconding. Teams have been constituted to track and arrest them.
Officials say the accused exploited their official positions and forged land records to benefit illegally, causing both economic damage and distress to common citizens. Investigations are ongoing and more arrests are likely.
