Srinagar, Aug 29: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Tehsildar Bijbhera, in connection with an alleged land scam investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch), Srinagar.
According to details available with Kashmir News Corner (KNC), the case stems from a complaint filed by a Srinagar woman who claimed she was cheated after purchasing over five kanals of land in Balhama in 2012. It was alleged that revenue records were tampered with, mutations fraudulently inserted, and part of the land later sold to a third party.
Investigations revealed that mutations had been altered in connivance with revenue officials, including then Tehsildar Nusrat Aziz and a Patwari. The Crime Branch registered FIR No.14/2025 under Sections 167, 420, 120-B RPC read with the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The petitioner argued that she had been falsely implicated due to personal vendetta and cited her long service record, health issues, and earlier interim bail as grounds for anticipatory bail. However, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani observed that given the gravity of the allegations and ongoing investigation, anticipatory bail could not be granted at this stage.
The court stressed that investigation must proceed “with a free hand” and noted that the evidence so far indicates a “well-planned conspiracy” involving manipulation of official records to benefit private individuals.
Dismissing the plea, the court concluded that the petitioner is “not entitled to the concession of anticipatory bail at this stage.” (KNC)
