Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sustained an aggressive anti-graft drive throughout 2025, registering 78 FIRs, uncovering a major land scam, securing convictions in multiple cases, and strengthening preventive vigilance and public outreach mechanisms.
According to official data, the ACB investigated 78 corruption-related cases during the year, including 36 trap cases against public servants for demanding and accepting bribes, 18 cases involving disproportionate assets, 15 cases related to abuse of official position, eight cases linked to a major land scam involving fraudulent alienation of custodian land, and one case pertaining to illegal appointments. Charge-sheets were filed in 43 cases before competent courts, reflecting what the Bureau described as timely and professional investigation. During the year, courts delivered judgments in several matters, resulting in convictions in seven cases and the conviction of 13 accused persons.
Alongside punitive action, the ACB placed significant emphasis on preventive vigilance and systemic reforms. During 2025, the Bureau carried out 703 verifications, including miscellaneous matters, and disposed of 764 cases, which also included pendency from the previous year. These verifications involved scrutiny of complaints, examination of suspicious transactions, and assessment of procedural weaknesses vulnerable to corruption.
To address systemic shortcomings, the ACB issued 41 alert notes and 91 advisories to the government during the year. These advisories highlighted procedural lapses, corruption-prone areas, and deficiencies detected during verifications, surprise checks, and complaint examinations. The objective, officials said, was to strengthen internal controls, enhance transparency, and improve accountability across departments.
District Vigilance Officers (DVOs) continued to play a pivotal role in reinforcing the anti-corruption framework at the departmental level. Acting as the primary link between the public, government departments, and the ACB, DVOs referred 15,197 matters over the past five years, of which 12,406 were disposed of, indicating a disposal rate of around 90 per cent. In 2025 alone, 3,960 matters were disposed of through this mechanism.
During the year, the ACB conducted 18 new Joint Surprise Checks (JSCs) and successfully concluded 19 checks, including backlog cases. It also registered 25 Preliminary Enquiries (PEs), of which 20 were finalised and disposed of within the same year.
Public outreach and awareness remained a key priority for the Bureau. The ACB organised Vigilance Awareness Programmes on two occasions in 2025, involving workshops and interactive sessions with citizens, students, and government employees. These programmes focused on highlighting the adverse impact of corruption and promoting ethical conduct, integrity, and transparency in public life. Citizens were also encouraged to report corruption through the Bureau’s accessible and confidential complaint mechanisms.
Capacity building of officers and staff was another major focus area. The ACB conducted regular training programmes for investigating officers, including expert sessions by professionals from universities, banks, and specialised institutions. These programmes featured case study-based discussions to equip officers with practical insights into complex investigations. Planning has also been initiated for future specialised training courses for newly inducted officers in coordination with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other investigative agencies.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau said it remains committed to dealing with all complaints fairly, confidentially, and professionally. The Bureau expressed hope for continued cooperation from citizens to strengthen public trust and foster a culture of transparency and accountability across Jammu and Kashmir.
