2 weeks Ago By Daily Excelsior
3 Engineers arrested in Hokersar dredging caseExcelsior CorrespondentSrinagar, Apr 19: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today registered a case against the grandson of former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, for unauthorized multi-storey hostel constructions on custodian land in Srinagar.Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The ACB registered a case (FIR 08/2025 in ACB Srinagar) today against Iftikhar Sadiq son of Rafiq Sadiq, a resident of Gagribal and officials of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA).Click here to watch videoThe case was registered against Sadiq for unauthorizedly constructing multi-storey hostels on custodian land in collusion with officials of LAWDA, the Town Planning Organization, and the Custodian Department.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) ACB, Javaid Hassan Bhat, told a press conference here that the ACB initiated legal action following verification, prompted by a complaint from the Intizamia Committee of Masjid Shareef, Gagribal Boulevard.The complaint, as per the ACB, alleged illegal construction activities by Iftikhar Sadiq who is accused of constructing multi-storey hostel buildings on approximately 12 kanals of custodian land at Gagribal, Srinagar.“The verification revealed a criminal conspiracy involving officials from the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Town Planning Organization, and Custodian Department.
”The ACB informed it was found that Iftikhar Sadiq received permission to construct five hostel structures in violation of J&K Building By-Laws of 2011, particularly regarding the minimum land requirement of 3 kanals per hostel for 50 students.“Despite initial permission (NOCs) for only three structures, subsequent permissions were issued for two more in gross violation of regulations.”The construction, as per the ACB, deviated significantly from approved plans, resulting in structures resembling resorts rather than hostels.
“The case highlights abuse of official positions by several officials, including those from LAWDA and the Custodian Evacuee Property Department, who allegedly colluded with Iftikhar Sadiq for personal financial gains,” the ACB noted.The SP said that the ACB registered another case in dredging of the Hokersar wetland and arrested three officials-including two Executive Engineers and the then Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE)-for questioning.Regarding the dredging of the Hokersar wetland at Narbal, the SSP said that the ACB Srinagar has registered an FIR following a joint surprise check conducted to investigate allegations of irregularities and professional misconduct during the dredging.
The ACB informed that the inquiry uncovered serious lapses on the part of public officials and a private contractor company, M/S Reach Dredging Limited.The findings revealed that tenders were invited under NIT No. 01 of 2018-19, dated July 7, 2018, for the work and construction of a channel across Hokersar wetland.
The work was allotted to M/S Reach Dredging Ltd. for Rs. 2055.
565 lacs by the Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir, with the provision that no material would be dumped within the periphery of Hokersar Wetland.“Despite major works being executed based on altered parameters through a Letter of Intent (LOI), the work was awarded based on original advertised quantities and costs, with no clarity on dumping sites or the disposal of excavated material.”The findings of the inquiry, as per the ACB, also revealed that significant variations in transportation distances-ranging from 8 km to 18 km-were grouped together, “allowing undue payments for transportation of excavated material, most of which was allegedly not disposed of as per the NIT.
”“The manipulation of the specifications of work and quantities resulted in a financial loss amounting to Rs. 2.29 crores (approx.
) to the State Exchequer, excluding royalty and minor mineral costs, and further damage to the ecology of the wetland,” the ACB stated.Public servants, Siraj-Ud-Din Shah and Ghulam Ahmad Beigh, the then Executive Engineers of Flood Spill Channel Division Narbal, and Irfan Ahmad Reshi, the then AEE of Flood Spill Channel Division Narbal, among others, were found to have colluded with the contractor company M/S Reach Dredging Limited, causing a significant loss of funds to the State Exchequer and “defeating” the purpose for which the dredging in the wetland was initiated.Based on these findings, FIR No.
07/2025 under sections 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120-B/RPC has been registered, and an investigation has been initiated, the ACB said.The post ACB registers case against former J&K PM’s grandson for illegal construction appeared first on Daily Excelsior..
