J&K Crime Branch files chargesheet in Udhampur land record fraud case
Synopsis
Jammu's Economic Offences Wing has filed a chargesheet in a land record fraud case where an accused allegedly altered his parentage in official revenue documents — with the help of a sitting Tehsildar — to unlawfully claim ancestral property. The case exposes how insider access to revenue records can be weaponised to dispossess legitimate property owners.
Key Takeaways
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Jammu Crime Branch filed a chargesheet before the Anti-Corruption Court, Udhampur on 3 September .
Accused Allah Din of Battal Balian allegedly altered his parentage in revenue records from Dalmir to Baghu to fraudulently claim ancestral property.
Co-accused Joginder Kumar Sawhney , the then Udhampur Tehsildar (now deceased), allegedly facilitated the manipulation of official land records.
Charges include Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006.
Investigation was led by DSP Aakash Kohli ; the case now proceeds to judicial determination.
Citizens can report economic frauds to the EOW at sspcrimejmu@jkpolice.gov.in or 0191-2578901 .
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Jammu Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption Court), Udhampur, against two accused in a land record fraud case involving alleged forgery of revenue documents and unlawful property claims in Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. The development was confirmed on Thursday, 3 September.
The Accused
The chargesheet names Allah Din, son of Dalmir and a resident of Battal Balian, Udhampur, and Joginder Kumar Sawhney (now deceased), who served as the then Udhampur Tehsildar, as the two accused in the case. Both have been charged for offences punishable under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
The case originated from a written complaint filed by Shamas Din, son of Noor Jamal and a resident of Battal tehsil, Udhampur. According to the complaint, accused Allah Din allegedly altered his father's name in the official revenue records — changing his parentage from Dalmir to Baghu — and on the basis of this falsified lineage, unlawfully claimed ancestral property that rightfully belonged to the complainant.
Investigators allege that this manipulation was carried out in connivance with Joginder Kumar Sawhney, the then-serving Tehsildar of Udhampur, who reportedly facilitated the changes to the official land records. The involvement of a revenue official underscores the systemic nature of the alleged fraud.
Investigation and Evidence
The case was investigated by Deputy Superintendent of Police Aakash Kohli, who examined the relevant revenue records and other material evidence. According to the EOW, the allegations were found to be substantiated on the basis of the evidence collected during the investigation. The chargesheet has been filed along with a list of witnesses and seized documents for judicial determination.
Advisory and Reporting Mechanism
SSP Crime Branch EOW Jammu, Faisal Qureshi, has urged citizens to remain vigilant against economic frauds of this nature. Victims of such offences can submit complaints via email at sspcrimejmu@jkpolice.gov.in or contact the EOW on telephone number 0191-2578901. This case is part of a broader effort by the Jammu Crime Branch to crack down on revenue record manipulation and economic offences across the region.
With the chargesheet now before the court, the matter will proceed to judicial determination — a key step toward accountability in a case that highlights the vulnerability of land records to insider manipulation.
Point of View
But digitisation without access controls and change-logging merely moves the fraud online. The real accountability question is systemic: how many similar alterations went undetected, and what oversight mechanism exists to flag parentage changes in revenue documents?
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Udhampur land record fraud case?
It is a case in which accused Allah Din allegedly altered his parentage in official revenue records — from Dalmir to Baghu — in connivance with the then Udhampur Tehsildar Joginder Kumar Sawhney, to unlawfully claim ancestral property belonging to complainant Shamas Din. The Jammu Crime Branch EOW filed a chargesheet in the matter on 3 September before the Anti-Corruption Court, Udhampur.
Who are the accused in the J&K land fraud chargesheet?
The two accused are Allah Din, son of Dalmir and a resident of Battal Balian, Udhampur, and Joginder Kumar Sawhney, the then Tehsildar of Udhampur, who has since died. Both are charged with cheating, forgery, and corruption-related offences under the Ranbir Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006.
What charges have been framed in the case?
The accused have been charged under Sections 420 (cheating), 465, 467, 468, 471 (forgery-related), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006.
How can victims of land or economic fraud in Jammu report their cases?
Victims can submit complaints to the Economic Offences Wing, Jammu Crime Branch via email at sspcrimejmu@jkpolice.gov.in or by calling 0191-2578901, as advised by SSP EOW Jammu Faisal Qureshi.
What happens next in this case?
With the chargesheet filed along with a witness list and seized documents, the case will now proceed to judicial determination before the Additional District and Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption Court) in Udhampur.
