SRINAGAR, July 16 :
A four member CBI team, probing Srinagar Defence land scam, has questioned Revenue official, land brokers and beneficiaries of the scam apart from seizing vital documents pertaining to the case.
The team headed by Dy SP CBI Sandeep Choudhary arrived in Srinagar on Saturday to continue its investigation into illegal issuance of 110 No Objection Certificates by the then Defence Estates officer Ajay Choudary, CBI sources said.
“As per rules, the NOC cannot be given without clearance from the PMO”, said the sources. “In case of the NOC issued here, neither have the beneficiaries applied nor have any directions from PMO been issued to them”, they added.
The inquiry was started in 2011 after the scam had surfaced after which the CBI filed an FIR under No 1/2012 under section 120-B R/W 51-D at Delhi.
Many teams had earlier come for investigations and on 18 May the charges were established, said sources. “The team met Revenue officials, land brokers/dealers, NOC holders and seized document”, added CBI sources adding the team will stay in Valley till July 26
Defence Estates Officer Ajay Choudhary and another official Vijay Kumar had earlier been placed under suspension after being found involved in the scam. “Right now we are preparing to file chargesheets in the case”, said the sources.
Pertinently a CBI team led by SSP, Ashwini Kumar Chand and and Additional SP Anil Singh had come to Srinagar on November 28, 2011 to probe the alleged irregularities committed by the Defence Estates authorities in connivance with State revenue authorities and land sharks.
Earlier, an internal probe by the Defence Ministry had found that private parties were allowed to buy more than 100 acres near sensitive military installations in Srinagar on the basis NOCs that were granted fraudulently.
After these revelations came to fore, Defence Minister, A K Antony had informed the Parliament that on receipt of complaint, a preliminary inquiry was conducted during which it was found that prima-facie there have been irregularities in the issuance of NOCs which may have wider implications.
Ministry of Defence owns large tracts of land of 17.53 lakh acres nearly, out of which approximately 1.57 lakh acres is situated within the 62 notified Cantonments and about 15.96 lakh acres is outside these Cantonments.(KNS)
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