Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday booked former Jammu and Kashmir Minister and Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin in connection with alleged illegal regularisation of encroached forest land in his name under the Roshni Act.
Taj Mohidin becomes the first political leader booked by the CBI in the Roshni land scheme.
Taj Mohiudin is accused of allegedly grabbing 13 kanals of forest land in Shopian district and regularising it under the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to Occupants) Act also known as the Roshni Act.
As per reports CBI has said they received a complaint against the former minister by the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mohiuddin refuted the allegations and said that he has not availed any land under the scheme.
"This is political vendetta by the ruling party against its opponents to draw benefits in upcoming DDC elections,” he said.
The Roshni Act was annulled by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court this year by declaring it unconstitutional, and directed the government to retrieve all the encroached or transfered land from the occupants.
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The court also directed the CBI to investigate the entire matter.
Reacting to the development, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the BJP government is misusing the investigating agencies to harrass political opponents.
"Kashmiri leaders are being harassed by GOI's pet agencies like CBI, NIA & ED. They are being hounded and punished for participating in DDC polls. BJPs designs of foisting puppets and proxies has been derailed much to their chagrin," Mufti said in a tweet.
Taj Mohidin is contesting District Development Council elections from Uri seat of Baramulla district on Congress ticket.
The Jammu and Kashmir has published names of several former ministers, their kins, former bureaucrats and businessmen for purchasing or transfering the government or Nazool land in their favour on paltry money.
