Srinagar, August 19: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Srinagar has registered an FIR against several officials and beneficiaries in connection with alleged illegal construction and encroachment in the Rajbagh area of Srinagar.
The case, registered as FIR No. 10/2026, follows a Joint Surprise Check and subsequent verification into allegations concerning the construction of a multi-storey building in the flood basin/fringe area of the River Jhelum at Rajbagh.
According to the ACB, the verification revealed alleged irregularities in the grant and subsequent modification of building permissions. The investigation found that the plinth area and height of the building were allegedly increased substantially without obtaining mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the concerned departments.
The verification also allegedly established encroachment over approximately 2.9 kanals of State/Kahcharai land, besides construction over drainage infrastructure and within the prohibited river-fringe area.
The FIR names then Senior Town Planner, Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Muneer Ahmad Khan, then Joint Commissioner Planning, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), R.K. Tutoo, then In-charge Assistant Town Planner, SMC, Ulfat Jan, along with other concerned officials.
The beneficiaries, Gulzar Ahmad Sheikh and Parveena Akhter, have also been named in the case.
The ACB has alleged abuse of official position, criminal conspiracy and facilitation of unauthorized construction and encroachment. The case has been registered under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006, besides Sections 447-A, 468 and 120 RPC and other applicable provisions.
The ACB said that further investigation into the matter is underway.
