ACB presented Chargesheet against Swarn Singh Salaria, Director, Simm Samm Hotels Private Limited & The White Hotel Katra and other revenue officials in case of causing loss of Rs 9.55 crore to the State Government exchequer in the court of Special Judge Anti Corruption Udhampur

Anti Corruption Bureau presented chargesheet in Case FIR No. 12/2011 of PS VOJ (Now ACB) under section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2), J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and 120-B RPC in the court of Special Judge Anti Corruption, Udhampur.

2. The Instant case was registered on 09-07-2011 by the then State Vigilance Organization (Now ACB) against Swarn Singh Salaria S/o Nadhan Salaria, Village Chohana, Pathankot, Harbans Singh S/o Lehar Singh of Bishnah Jammu, Kunal Sharma Tehsildar Reasi, Rattan Singh Naib Tehsildar Katra, Hukum Chand Circle Girdawar Katra and Om Prakash Patwari Halqa Kundrorian Katra for allegedly causing loss of Rs 9.55 crore to the State Government exchequer.

3. The revenue officers/ officials by abuse of their official position dishonestly and fraudulently prepared and issued incomplete and misleading revenue extract in respect of land measuring 52 kanals 18 marlas under Khasra number 11 min situated at village Kundrorian Katra, Reasi falling under Katra Development Authority in favour of private beneficiaries Swarn Singh Salaria and others.

4. During verification, it transpired that above mentioned revenue officers / officials knowingly and willfully omitted to mention that “The White Hotel, Katra, District Reasi” constructed over the land that existed on aforesaid land while preparing and issuing revenue extracts thus intentionally and dishonestly facilitated private beneficiaries Swarn Singh Salaria and Harbans Singh to depreciate the value of property from its actual cost and thus allowed evasion of the stamp duty.

5. Verifications further revealed that Swarn Singh Salaria had obtained a loan of Rs 1500 lakh from IDBI Bank Mumbai in June 2010 against the aforesaid property. While assessing the property of Swarn Singh Salaria in the form of land and hotel white, the surveyor had assessed the value of the property to the tune of Rs 194,25,24,478. This assessment had been agreed upon by the beneficiary and IDBI Bank Mumbai while mortgaging the aforesaid property against the loan of Rs 1500 lacs. The land in question falls under Katra Development Authority.

6. As per the notification of Divisional Commissioner Jammu which was effective at the time of sale of land, the value of the land was fixed at Rs 25 lakh per kanal for purposes of stamp duty. The actual stamp duty need to be paid on the land was Rs 95,22,000 and the stamp duty supposed to be paid on the super structure was to the tune of Rs 8.64 crores while the accused have paid stamp duty Rs. 2,52,000 only. Thus, a total loss of Rs 9.55 crores to the Govt exchequer has been caused on account of evasion of stamp duty by abuse of the official position by the above mentioned revenue officers.

7. After completing the investigation of case, sanction for launching of prosecution of the accused public servants was also obtained from the competent authority. Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K produced charge sheet against the above mentioned accused persons before the Hon’ble Court of Spl. Judge Anti-Corruption Court Udhampur on 18.08.2020.

8. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 19.09.2020.

Announcements