Thaindian News

Srinagar/New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday conducted simultaneous search operations in Srinagar, Jammu and Patna as part of its probe into a Rs.1,500 crore defence land scandal in Jammu and Kashmir.

CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said the raids were conducted to “collect evidences” after the agency registered a new case recently related to the defence land in Srinagar that was given “irregularly to private persons”.

Mishra said the searches were conducted at the homes of a defence estate officer who is accused of having given no-objection certificates for transfer of the land. She, however, did not identify the accused officer.

Sources in Srinagar said the official under the scanner is a 1997 batch defence estates officer (DEO) who had allowed some private influential people to buy and build on the sprawling 200 acres near the high-security Indian Air Force station and 15 Corps headquarters of the Indian Army in Srinagar.

The scam surfaced last year after an internal inquiry by the defence ministry found that some civilians were allowed to buy the land.

The defence ministry probe said the cost of the land could be between Rs.1,200 crore and Rs.1,500 crore. Over 70 certificates issued since 2007 are being scrutinised now.

Sources said the certificates reveal that the defence ministry had never acquired the land. However, defence estate records show that the land was bought in the 1960s for security installations.