Srinagar, Feb 7: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against Maeen Azhar Kakroo, the then Tehsildar South Srinagar, for allegedly abusing his official position and demanding illegal gratification in connection with land restoration and demarcation.
According to an ACB statement, FIR No. 03/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case originated from a complaint regarding illegal encroachment issues and alleged bribery during land restoration proceedings in 2021.
The bureau said verification revealed that land measuring 4 Kanals 9 Marlas 165 square feet, including Survey No. 998/54, was recorded in the names of several individuals, including the complainant. During verification, it allegedly surfaced that the accused public servant demanded illegal gratification for facilitating restoration of 14 Marlas of land at Gulbahar Colony, Hyderpora, Sector-14 Srinagar.
The ACB further alleged that a second-hand Mahindra Rexton 4×4 vehicle (Registration No. MH03CP-5000) was accepted as illegal gratification, with payments reportedly made by the complainant through banking transactions from his Paytm account linked to J&K Bank Batamaloo.
The bureau stated that after restoration, the land was sold by the complainant in January 2022 to a private purchaser and is presently in her possession. By allegedly demanding and accepting illegal gratification other than legal remuneration in connection with an official act, the accused is stated to have abused his official position.
Following the registration of the FIR, searches were conducted at two residential locations of the accused—Kanil Bagh Azad Road in Baramulla and Rose Avenue Colony, Gazalla Abad HMT in Srinagar—after obtaining warrants from the Hon’ble Court. During the searches, incriminating evidence including revenue records and financial/banking documents were recovered and seized, the ACB said.
The investigation into the case is ongoing, the statement added. (KDC)
