Enforcement Directorate Launches Sweeping Probe into Illegal Transfer of PoK Evacuee Land, Uncovers Evidence of Fraudulent Property Transfers to Relatives; More Raids Expected on Revenue/Landmafia
In a major blow against a deeply entrenched land mafia, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today launched extensive raids at nine locations in Jammu and Udhampur, exposing a massive scam involving the illegal transfer and occupation of thousands of Kanals of Custodian Land belonging to PoK evacuees.4 The ED’s action, stemming from multiple FIRs registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2022, has brought prominent revenue officials, including Patwari Pranav Dev Singh, Patwari Rahul Kai, under intense scrutiny for their alleged connivance. Pranav Dev Singh was not at home and a notice has been served at his home to present himself before ED
Investigators reportedly possess strong evidence detailing how revenue officials fraudulently transferred properties to their relatives and in-laws, while the ED is also probing the massive financial trail left by property dealers and other beneficiaries of this multi-crore land grab, indicating a comprehensive unravelling of the entire criminal nexus.
jj correspondent
Jammu, August 22, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today launched a sweeping and meticulously coordinated raid across nine locations in Jammu and Udhampur districts, blowing the lid off a massive custodian land-grabbing scam that implicates a nexus of revenue officials, land mafias, and criminal elements. The raids, which targeted individuals allegedly involved in the illegal transfer and occupation of thousands of Kanals of prime custodian property belonging to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) evacuees, are expected to unearth a multi-crore fraud, with the ED reportedly possessing “strong evidence” against the accused. The ED’s Jammu unit carried out these
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extensive searches, hitting eight locations in Jammu and one in Udhampur, against several individuals including prominent revenue officials: Patwari Pranav Dev Singh, Patwari Rahul Kai, among others. As the raids commenced, Patwari Pranav Dev Singh was notably absent from his residence, reportedly having travelled to Delhi. Agencies made contact with him, but he failed to appear. Subsequently, a notice has been served to his family members, directing him to report to the ED office. Notices have also been served to other involved individuals, including property dealers and alleged police personnel, with staggered dates for their appearance before the ED. As per sources many more Revenue officials are under the Radar of ED and it is expected that raids would be conducted in their premises very soon.
The probe by the central agency stems from a series of First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) (Central), Jammu and Kashmir Police, in 2022. The ACB’s initial investigation had exposed one of the most significant land scams in Jammu and Kashmir, revealing that thousands of Kanals of custodian land in areas like Asarwan, Mishriwala, and Bhalwal were usurped by land grabbers and gangsters in alleged connivance with officers and officials from the custodian, revenue, and police departments. The ACB had found evidence of tampered revenue records and widespread illegal sales.
Investigators, both from the ACB and now the ED, suspect large-scale irregularities in the fraudulent alienation of this valuable public land. The ACB’s verification had established a criminal conspiracy wherein Form 3-A (Form Alf) along with Power of Attorneys (POAs) were obtained from various PoK Refugees. These refugees were allegedly lured with promises of additional lands and instant money ranging from ?5,000 to ?50,000 by conduits of the land grabbers. Subsequently, insertions and additions regarding additional chunks of custodian lands were allegedly made in the revenue records by officials of the revenue and custodian department through a sheer abuse of their official positions. These fraudulently acquired lands were then sold by the conduits and attorney holders to various persons, including their own gang leaders and members, causing a huge loss to the government. This nexus led the ACB to register five formal FIRs for investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and fraud.
Sources indicate that the ED’s current investigation possesses very strong evidence, including documents that allegedly reveal how certain revenue officials, as part of this corrupt network, fraudulently transferred properties into the names of their relatives, in-laws, and other family members, leveraging their official positions for personal gain. The ED is also meticulously tracing the financial trails left by property dealers and other investors who allegedly profited immensely from this scam, scrutinizing the money invested and the illegal gains made.
As of the time of filing this report, the raids were reportedly continuing, with some accused individuals not found at their residences. Sources within the ED suggest that the agency will soon hold a press conference to reveal the full details of the scam, including the involvement of all implicated individuals, the FIR numbers, and the precise nature of the charges, bringing this elaborate network of corruption fully into the public domain. The relentless pursuit by the ED, building on the ACB’s initial probes, signifies a determined effort to dismantle the deep-rooted mafia and hold all collaborators, regardless of their position or influence, accountable for defrauding the state.
