CBI to probe role of top leaders in Roshni Scam

New Delhi: In a major development, Roshni land scam amounting to whopping Rs 25,000 crore has been unearthed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to investigate the role of top leaders of the state in multi-crore land grab case.
Role of a former J&K Chief Minister will also be investigated, the reports said.
Under the Roshni scheme, encroached state land was to be regularised by the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the money collected under the scheme was to be utilised to fund hydroelectric projects for the people of the state. Auditory agencies, however, claim the scheme was used to regularise encroached properties at throwaway prices and thus violated the very basis of Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (vesting of ownership rights to the Occupants) Act, 2001 under which funds were to be utilised for public welfare.
Referred to as ‘biggest’ scam in Jammu and Kashmir, reports said that the scheme was initiated by the Farooq Abdullah government.
Leaders of National Conference, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) used the scheme for their benefit, reported Times Now citing documents.
Last week, the CBI spokesperson RK Gaur had said that allegations involve huge losses to the state exchequer.
“It was further alleged that in many cases, ownership rights over the State land were conferred in favour of individuals, who were not having the recorded possession in their respective names in the revenue records. It was also alleged that the rates were not fixed by the Price Fixation Committee, as per the provisions of the Act and in many cases were not remitted to the Government Treasury, thereby causing huge loss to the State exchequer,” Gaur was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.