Jammu MC officials booked for facilitating construction of restaurant illegally

Anti Corruption Bureau has registered a case against the officials of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and beneficiaries in illegal building permission case. The case was registered on the basis of a verification which was conducted on a complaint alleging therein illegal construction by one Bhasin family in the name of M/s Hot Billion at Rehari Chungi with the active connivance of officers/officials of Jammu Municipal Corporation.The verification revealed that one Sanjeev Bhasin R/o 87-BC Road Rehari Jammu sought the permission for renovation/repair of his commercial building being run as a restaurant “Hot Billon” at Rehari Chungi Jammu which was granted to him vide No. 417/BC/2013 dated 22.07.2013. It was found that besides the above mentioned permission so sought as well as granted, the permission was even granted for construction of 2nd floor in the same order by the Senior Town Planner, JMC Jammu to the extent of 229 Sqft., which was not sought by him. It further surfaced during probe that the said owner has initially constructed the whole building illegally in connivance with the then officers/officials of JMC and under the garb of new permission raised a huge three storied commercial building.The verification further revealed that the owner has illegally constructed commercial building with an area of nearly 4570 Sqft. on 2nd floor without permission upon similar type of construction made for the ground and 1st floor. Moreover the columns for the 3rd floor were also found to be laid. The said illegal huge commercial construction was facilitated illegally and dishonestly by the officers/officials of Jammu Municipality Corporation namely Farzana Naqashbani, Senior Town Planner, Satish Kahjuria, then Chief Khilafwarzi Officer, Abdul Gani, then Assistant Enforcement Officer and Madan Lal Padha, then Executive Officer which is in violation of sanctioned building plan, master plan, Zonal regulations and building Bye-Laws (COBO Act) etc. “By acting in this manner, the above named officers/officials of JMC abused their official positions and in connivance with beneficiary namely Sanjeev Bhasin conferred huge benefits upon him” said an official statement by ACB.“The aforementioned acts of omission and commission on the part of Farzana Naqashbandi, then Sr. Town Planner, Satish Khajuria, then Chief Khailafwarzi Officer JMC Jammu, Abdul Gani, then Assistant Enforcement Officer, Madan Lal Padha, then Executive Officer JMC Jammu, beneficiary namely Sanjeev Bhasin and others constitute offences punishable under section 5 (1) (d) r/w 5 (2) J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B RPC. Consequently a case FIR No. 21/2020 was registered in P/S ACB-Jammu and investigation taken up. Subsequently, search warrant was sought and searches were conducted. Incriminating material was seized during the searches conducted” said the official statement.