J&K Crime Branch files chargesheet in Srinagar land fraud case, names 3 accused
Synopsis
The J&K Crime Branch has charged three people — including two residents of Khushipora — for allegedly selling the same land plot in Srinagar to multiple buyers using forged revenue records. A now-deceased Patwari is implicated as a co-conspirator, raising uncomfortable questions about how deep official complicity ran in this case.
Key Takeaways
J&K Crime Branch EOW Kashmir filed a chargesheet on 1 June before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar in land fraud case FIR No.
Accused Mehraj-ud-Din Khanday and Shabir Ahmad Khanday , both of Khushipora Abanshah, Srinagar , are among the three named.
The alleged fraud involved selling the same plot at Khushipora, HMT Srinagar to multiple buyers through separate registered sale deeds.
Charges invoked include Sections 420, 468, 167 , and 120-B RPC — covering cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
A then-serving Patwari (now deceased) allegedly aided the fraud by manipulating revenue records.
Citizens can report economic fraud to SSP EOW Srinagar at sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in .
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch on Monday, 1 June filed a chargesheet before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar in a land fraud case linked to the Khushipora area of Srinagar district, naming three accused persons for allegedly selling the same parcel of land to multiple buyers through forged documents. The case, registered as FIR No. 03/2024, was investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K.
What the Chargesheet Alleges
According to the Crime Branch statement, accused Mehraj-ud-Din Khanday, son of Ghulam Ahmad Khanday, and Shabir Ahmad Khanday — both residents of Khushipora Abanshah, Srinagar — allegedly conspired with a then-serving Patwari (now deceased) to execute multiple registered sale deeds for the same plot of land at Khushipora, HMT Srinagar.
The chargesheet invokes Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 167 (public servant framing incorrect document), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Investigators found that fabricated and manipulated revenue records were used to deceive buyers and secure unlawful financial gains.
How the Fraud Was Carried Out
The core of the alleged scheme involved selling the same land parcel to multiple purchasers through separate registered sale deeds — each appearing legitimate on paper but backed by manipulated revenue records. The involvement of a revenue official, the Patwari, reportedly gave the fraudulent transactions an air of authenticity, making detection harder for ordinary buyers.
This type of double-sale land fraud is not uncommon in urban pockets of Jammu and Kashmir, where land records digitisation has been uneven and legacy paper-based revenue entries remain susceptible to manipulation.
Crime Branch's Role and Public Advisory
The Crime Branch J&K is a specialised investigative unit tasked with probing complex economic offences that require technical expertise in revenue, finance, and allied sectors — beyond the capacity of routine executive policing. The EOW operates as its dedicated economic crimes arm.
Following the chargesheet filing, the Crime Branch issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against economic fraudsters. Complaints can be directed to SSP EOW Srinagar, Abdul Waheed Shah, or submitted via the official email sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in.
What Happens Next
With the chargesheet now before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the court will determine cognisance and frame charges against the three accused. The case will proceed to trial, where the prosecution will be required to establish the chain of fraudulent transactions through revenue records and witness testimony. The deceased Patwari's role may be examined as part of the evidentiary record even though he cannot face trial.
Point of View
Not just forged paperwork. Until J&K completes robust digitisation of land records with tamper-proof audit trails, similar cases will continue to surface. The public advisory to report fraud is well-intentioned, but the deeper fix lies in systemic reform of how sale deeds are verified against revenue records in real time.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khushipora land fraud case in Srinagar?
It is a case in which the same plot of land at Khushipora, HMT Srinagar was allegedly sold to multiple buyers through separate registered sale deeds backed by fabricated revenue records. The J&K Crime Branch EOW Kashmir filed a chargesheet in the matter on 1 June under FIR No. 03/2024.
Who are the accused named in the J&K Crime Branch chargesheet?
Three persons have been named, including Mehraj-ud-Din Khanday and Shabir Ahmad Khanday, both residents of Khushipora Abanshah, Srinagar. A then-serving Patwari, now deceased, is also cited as a co-conspirator in the chargesheet.
What charges have been filed in the Srinagar land fraud case?
The accused face charges under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for cheating), 167 (public servant framing incorrect document), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code. The chargesheet has been presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar.
How can victims of land or economic fraud in J&K report their cases?
Victims can approach SSP EOW Srinagar, Abdul Waheed Shah, directly or submit complaints via the official email sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in. The Economic Offences Wing of J&K Crime Branch handles such specialised financial crime investigations.
What happens next in the Khushipora land fraud case?
The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar will now consider cognisance of the chargesheet and frame charges against the accused. The case will then proceed to trial, where the prosecution must establish the fraudulent transactions through revenue records and witness testimony.
