The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), in a statement, said it has presented a chargesheet against the then Executive Officer of Municipal Committee (MC) Kupwara, the then Khilafwarzi Inspector MC Kupwara, and Ghulam Mohammad Mir, attorney holder, in connection with illegal building permission, encroachment and construction on notified land meant for the construction and expansion of Bus Stand Kupwara.
According to the ACB statement, a complaint was received alleging that the then Executive Officer MC Kupwara and others granted illegal building permission and allowed encroachment and construction on municipal land that had already been acquired by the government for the Bus Stand Kupwara project, for which compensation had been paid.
Following the complaint, a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) was conducted. The probe revealed that the then Executive Officer MC Kupwara, Bashir Ahmad Dar, allegedly committed irregularities while sanctioning building permission in favour of Ghulam Mohammad Mir for construction of a shopping complex at Bus Adda Regipora, Kupwara, on land that had been officially notified for public use.
After completion of the preliminary inquiry, FIR No. 14/2022 was registered and further investigation was taken up.
During investigation, it was found that the accused Executive Officer issued two building permissions for construction of a double-storey shopping complex in favour of Ghulam Mohammad Mir, attorney holder of land measuring 1 Kanal and 16 Marlas under Khasra No. 661. The ACB stated that mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Town Planning Organisation was not obtained, which was required under the Jammu and Kashmir Control of Building Operations Act, 1988, thus violating legal provisions.
The investigation further revealed that the land in question had already been acquired for public purpose and notified for construction of Bus Stand Kupwara. The ACB said that once land is acquired for a public project, it vests with the government and private individuals cannot seek building permission on such land.
It also surfaced that the building permission case had earlier been declined multiple times by previous officers due to legal issues related to the site. These objections were recorded in official files and inspection reports. Despite this, permission was allegedly granted.
The ACB stated that a loss of ₹57,37,500 was caused to the state exchequer, as compensation had already been paid for part of the land where illegal construction took place. The alleged action also affected the future expansion of the Regipora Kupwara Bus Stand project.
After completion of the investigation, the ACB presented a chargesheet before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court Baramulla, against Bashir Ahmad Dar, the then Executive Officer MC Kupwara;
Mohammad Abdullah Malik, the then Khilafwarzi Inspector MC Kupwara; and Ghulam Mohammad Mir, for offences under Section 5(1)(c)(d) read with 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B RPC.
The court has fixed April 18, 2026, as the next date of hearing in the case.(KINS)
