ED Unravels J&K’s ‘3-Alif’ Mutation Mayhem: Probe Widens on 50+ Fake Entries, Questions Mount Over Speedy Approvals Despite SDM’s Stringent Checks

Enforcement Directorate Faces Urdu Record Hurdle, Leaked ‘Confidential’ Letters Amidst Relentless Drive Against Corrupt Officials, Land Grabbers; SDM’s 2025 Order on Verification Bypassed by Old Frauds

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED), investigating the massive Custodian Land scam, is meticulously scrutinizing over 50 alleged fake “3-Alif” (occupancy tenancy) mutations executed between April 2017 and March 2019, facing challenges in translating extensive Urdu records and retrieving documents from Custodian and Revenue departments.
• Serious questions are being raised about the integrity of the Revenue Department’s past practices, as numerous mutations were allegedly processed fraudulently in 2017-2019, despite a stringent SDM order (No: SDM/JN/Misc/25-26/ 436-37 dated May 21, 2025) mandating verification of genuineness against Form A (Alif Form), cancellation registers, and continuous possession records since 1971.
• Amidst reports of ED’s “Confidential” letters being leaked, and a lack of due deliberation by revenue officials before entering mutations, the ED is pressing ahead, promising to spare no culprits, including revenue officials, land grabbers, and middlemen, with further arrests and property attachments expected as the investigation into this deep-rooted corruption expands.

Jammu, September 08, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its relentless pursuit of justice in the multi-crore Custodian Land scam, is meticulously unravelling a web of alleged fraudulent “3-Alif” (occupancy tenancy) mutations that date back years, bringing into sharp focus the alarming ease with which public land records were seemingly manipulated. While the ED is currently scrutinizing over 50 such fake mutations, primarily executed between April 2017 and March 2019, the investigation is hitting bureaucratic roadblocks, including the mammoth task of translating extensive Urdu records and an alleged lack of cooperation from the Custodian and Revenue departments in providing crucial documents. This complex probe is set to expose a deeply entrenched nexus of corrupt officials and land grabbers, with the ED vowing to spare no one.

The sheer audacity of the alleged fraud, particularly the speedy processing of mutations, raises serious questions about the administrative practices of the time. This is especially pertinent when viewed against a stringent order issued by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jammu North, Dr. Deepak Kumar, JKAS (vide No: SDM/JN/Misc/25-26/ 436-37 dated May 21, 2025). This order, issued to the Tehsildar Bhalwal, explicitly laid down the procedure for verifying the genuineness of 3-A mutations. It mandated cross-checking with Form A (Alif Form), cancellation registers, and crucially, continuous recorded possession “w.e.f. date of allotment/1971 to till date.” The order further stressed “more diligent” verification for cases under the purview of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The fact that fraudulent mutations were allegedly attested in 2017-2019 without adhering to such foundational principles, now legally defined as essential, highlights a profound lapse in due diligence and points towards a possible malicious intent during their original processing.

Sources indicate that the ED’s investigation has revealed instances where “girdawari” (field inspection records) for these fake mutations were allegedly created and the mutations entered all within the same year, specifically 2017. This compressed timeline starkly contradicts the very essence of verifying continuous possession since 1971, as now legally mandated, suggesting a deliberate rush to legitimize fraudulent claims. The ED is reportedly working deeply on these discrepancies, scrutinizing every minute detail from all available resources.

Further complicating the probe, reliable sources inform that the ED is encountering difficulties in obtaining required records from the Custodian and Revenue departments, and investigators are spending considerable time translating old Urdu documents, slowing down the pace of the complex investigation. Even more concerning are reports that “Confidential” letters issued by the Enforcement Directorate are allegedly being leaked, raising questions about internal security and potential efforts to compromise the investigation from within.

Despite these hurdles, the ED is pressing ahead with its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency has unequivocally stated its intent to bring all culprits to justice, promising to spare no one involved. This includes not only revenue officials and land grabbers but also any middlemen who facilitated these illegal transactions. The ED’s strong evidence, gathered during recent raids, is believed to be substantial enough to warrant major action. The agency is expected to attach illegally acquired properties in the coming days, with arrests of involved revenue officials, custodian staff, and land grabbers also anticipated. The scope of the investigation, currently focused on 50 mutations, is expected to widen significantly as more fraudulent entries come to light. The unravelling of this custodian land scam represents a critical battle against deep-rooted corruption, and the public is hopeful that the ED’s relentless efforts will finally bring long-awaited justice.