The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has arrested four out of seven individuals implicated in a high-profile case involving corruption, cheating, fraudulent mutations, and illegal insertions in revenue records. The arrests follow a detailed investigation backed by concrete evidence.
“FIR No. 14/2025 under Sections 167, 420, 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006 was registered on July 9, 2025, against seven individuals, including two revenue officials,” a spokesperson said in a statement issued to Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The statement noted that the accused were operating in an organized manner, inflicting significant financial damage and distress upon unsuspecting individuals in the Srinagar and Budgam districts.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
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Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, resident of Nowgam, Srinagar
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Mohammad Shafi Lone alias Shaff Cheeni, son of Abdul Ahad Lone, resident of House No. 187, Sector B, Peerbagh, Srinagar
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Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather, son of Noor Mohammad Rather, resident of Padshahi Bagh, Srinagar
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Shabir Ahmad Wani, son of Mohammad Ismail Wani, resident of Bagandar, Lasjan
The statement also revealed that one of the prime accused, Nusrat Aziz (Tehsildar), daughter of Abdul Aziz Lone, a resident of Gurez currently residing in Mehjoor Nagar, Srinagar, had applied for bail, which was subsequently rejected by the Anti-Corruption Court in Srinagar. She remains absconding and is reportedly involved in four other FIRs — two registered with Crime Branch Kashmir and two with ACB Kashmir.
In addition, two other accused — Ashiq Ali, son of Ghulam Rasool Khan (then Patwari, Balhama, Srinagar), currently residing in Hawal, Srinagar, and Shamima Akhter, wife of Mohammad Shafi Lone, resident of Gooripora, Rawalpora — are also on the run. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest them in accordance with the law. (Agencies)
