ACB chargesheets 11 in SMC illegal construction case

Srinagar, May 04: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday filed a chargesheet against 11 accused, including four officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and seven private beneficiaries, in connection with alleged irregularities in grant of building permissions leading to illegal constructions in the city.

In a statement issued to Alfaaz- The Words, the ACB said that the chargesheet has been presented in case FIR No. 24/2020 for offences under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, before the Court of Additional Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar for judicial determination.

“The case pertains to illegal construction of six structures at Jawahar Nagar, Goni Khan, Hari Singh High Street and Wazir Bagh in Srinagar without obtaining valid building permission from the competent authority, in connivance with officers and officials of SMC Srinagar,” the statement said.

It added that investigation conducted by Police Station ACB Srinagar, based on oral and documentary evidence, substantiated the allegations against the accused officials and private beneficiaries. “The conspiracy between the public servants and beneficiaries has been established,” the statement said.

The ACB further said that, after obtaining the requisite sanction for prosecution of the public servants from the government, the chargesheet was filed before the competent court. The next date of hearing has been fixed for June 16, 2026.