Pahalgam Golf Course land scam
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 25: The High Court has directed Revenue Department to inform it with regard to recovery of money as compensation granted to fake persons in lieu of process of acquisition of land for expansion of Golf Course at Pahalgam.
Hearing Suo moto cognizance taken by the court on embezzlement of public exchequer in the process of acquisition of land for expansion of Golf Course at famous tourist resort Pahalgam, the division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Puneet Gupta said the counsel representing the Revenue Department is unable to inform the court with regard to status of the deposit of the amount today and directed for submitting the report of recovery of money issued in favour of fake persons.
Court has recorded that the report as submitted showed that the amount has not been deposited. Court directed the Tehsildar Pahalgam to issue bailable warrants against these persons and report the court on next date.
Compensation towards land acquisition which was illegally taken away by the private individuals in the process of land acquisition was required to be deposited with the department.
Court has already directed for coercive action against some persons for taking away the compensation fraudulently. The Crime Branch Kashmir is also investigating the case under FIR registered with regard to gross irregularities while acquisition of land for expansion of Golf Course at Pahalgam and as directed has to submit the process of investigation before the court.
Huge amount of public money has been given to the beneficiaries who have illegally made insertions in revenue records with regard to expansion of Golf Course at Pahalgam in league and connivance with the Revenue officials.
Although the authorities have initiated the process of making recoveries of the amount paid to the beneficiaries who made insertions in the revenue records in order to get the compensation but have not completed the said process as yet.
Revenue department as per court directions have to submit the details regarding the process of effecting recoveries from the beneficiaries who had made insertions in the revenue records.
Court has already made it clear that it (Court) needs to know and determine as to what course of action should be taken to retrieve the Government money disbursed to persons not entitled thereto, whether under the orders of the Civil Court or otherwise.
Court further wanted to know as to what is the present status of the criminal case that was filed by the Crime Branch before the Court of law and who were the accused therein.
Court has recorded that since the matter involved a huge State exchequer, why should not it be referred to the CBI for a thorough investigation etc, so that the erring Government functionaries and the beneficiaries of such a wrong are brought to justice.
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