Speaker asks Crime Branch to probe land grab allegations

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul today asked the Crime Branch to investigate allegations of land grab against some leaders of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni.
"I direct the Crime Brach to investigate the matter," Mubarak Gul said after Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone put forth a suggestion in this regard.
Earlier, the Speaker had said he will constitute a House Committee to probe the matter in a time-bound manner.
However, Lone, a former Speaker, pointed out that the House Committee will not be appropriate as the Legislative Council was already seized of the case.

Ruling National Conference legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri had yesterday alleged in the Legislative Council that a PDP leader had grabbed over 200 hectares of state land in Marhama area of Anantnag district. He alleged that names of Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had also figured in the case.
The Legislative Council has already directed the Chief Secretary to ascertain the documents regarding the land in question and submit a report.

Gul also directed the government to present the documents pertaining to the transfer of the state land to an individual before the start of the Question Hour tomorrow.

Madni, meanwhile, said he was ready for any probe into the matter if it was proved that he has purchased any land anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir after joining politics.
He said he would quit politics for the good if it was proved that he had bought any land.