Will Digitalization Unmask a Serial Land Scammer? Suspended Patwari Scrambles to Hide Evidence
- A suspended Patwari in Jammu is accused of extensive corruption and fraud involving fake land deals, mutations, and Fards across multiple postings dating back to 2015.
- The Patwari allegedly amassed significant wealth through illegal land conversions, acquiring benami properties in relatives’ names, and accepting bribes.
- Facing multiple FIRs from the ACB, the Patwari has reportedly attempted to change his name to evade law enforcement and is suspected of continuing illegal activities even while under suspension.
- The ongoing digitization of land records threatens to expose the Patwari’s alleged removal of fraudulent mutations from physical files, raising questions about whether he will attempt to reinsert them before scanning and prompting Jammu Jottings to conduct further investigation and reveal evidence in an upcoming story.
Mohit Mehra
Jammu, Dec 18: A Jammu Patwari, currently under suspension, is facing serious allegations of corruption, fraud, and manipulation of land records spanning multiple postings, raising concerns about the integrity of the Revenue Department and the efficacy of ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
This Patwari, who served in a Jammu zone since 2013, has allegedly engaged in a sustained pattern of illegal activities throughout in his four subsequent postings in a single Sub-Division since 2015. During these tenures, he reportedly operated as both a Patwari and an unauthorized property dealer, facilitating numerous illicit land transactions, including the conversion of state land into private property through fraudulent mutations and Fards. He is accused of executing numerous fake mutations and issuing fraudulent Fards, illegally converting state land into private property for personal profit, and transferring state land to friends and relatives, creating a complex web of deceit and corruption. Further, he is alleged to have amassed a significant portfolio of benami properties, registering valuable assets in the names of his cousins and brother-in-law.
In 2019, a complaint was filed with the ACB alleging that the then-Patwari was attempting to illegally convert state land into private property, which initially prevented the conversion. However, when this Patwari was later posted to the same zone in 2021, he allegedly exploited his position to carry out the illegal conversion of the state land, estimated to be between 20 and 25 Kanals.
He reportedly charged ?7 lakh per Kanal for fraudulent mutations, accumulating significant illicit income. He also allegedly acquired one Kanal of this converted land for himself, using a relative’s name to conceal his ownership.
Despite the 2019 complaint, he managed to execute this conversion using Section 254-C in 2023, raising questions about the handling of the initial complaint and how he was able to proceed with the fraudulent conversion despite the ongoing investigation.
His deceitful actions during this period allegedly generated crores of rupees in illicit income. A prior suspension, stemming from his issuance of a fake Fard, further underscores his history of misconduct. A comprehensive investigation into his activities across his four postings could potentially uncover a vast network of benami properties and illegal land transactions worth crores.
The ACB, which is actively conducting raids and investigations into land scams across Jammu, has now filed several FIRs against this Patwari, prompting him to allegedly attempt to change his official name in a desperate bid to evade the consequences of his actions.
Jammu Jottings has received credible information suggesting that this Patwari’s illicit activities have continued even while under suspension, aided by a colluding Patwari colleague who has facilitated further illegal mutations.
The ongoing digitization of land records in Jammu and Kashmir poses a direct threat to this Patwari’s carefully constructed web of deceit. Having allegedly removed incriminating fake mutations from physical records during his previous postings, he now faces the challenge of reinserting them before the records are digitally scanned. The digitization process could expose the full extent of his fraudulent activities if these manipulated records are not included.
Jammu Jottings has obtained evidence of these removed mutations and will reveal the details in a forthcoming investigative report.
This case underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to combat corruption within the Revenue Department and highlights the challenges posed by the ongoing digitization process. The authorities must conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations into this Patwari’s activities across all his postings, taking decisive action to recover any illegally acquired land and hold him and his accomplices accountable. Failure to do so not only risks further erosion of public trust but also emboldens other corrupt officials to exploit loopholes and manipulate the system for personal gain. The future of land ownership security and the integrity of the Revenue Department in Jammu depend on the government’s ability to confront and effectively address this pervasive corruption.
