MIANWALI: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Sargodha division, has arrested assistant commissioner of tehsil Darya Khan, district Bhakkar, on charge of causing Rs14m loss to the national exchequer by underreporting the land price during a sugar mills sale in 2015.

The 1,038 kanal land of Darya Khan Sugar Mills was transferred to Facto Group from Adamjee Group though a deed registered with sub-registrar/assistant commissioner Darya Khan Sajid Safdar who, with the connivance of the revenue staff, showed mill price very low by bifurcating mill premises as commercial and residential installments as falling in to rural area to decrease the stamp duty fees.

The mill was owned by Aslam Company which had bought the mill from Facto Group. The group had bought the mill and its land from Adamjee group in 1975 on stamp papers and never got it transferred in its name.

In 2015, the sale transaction was reported with the director of the Ant-Corruption Establishment Sargodha Division by people of the area with allegations of corruption against the sub-registrar/AC.

The ACE formed an investigation team, consisting of deputy director investigation Aroojul Hassan, deputy director legal Gul Mohammad and others. The probe proved that Sub-Registrar/AC Sajid Safdar had illegally favoured the Facto Group by decreasing the value of mill and its land, resulting in the loss Rs14m to the exchequer.

On the inquiry report, a case been registered under various sections against sub-registrar/AC Sajid Safdar, seller and buyers groups of the mill, assistant director land record Abu Bakr Ghauri, registry moharar Niaz Bashia, and patwari.

The ACE arrested Safdar and conducting raid to arrest the other suspects.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2018