HYDERABAD, Aug 24: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Tuesday directed the DCO and the revenue EDO of Dadu to submit written explanations about forged entries in the revenue record of Thana Bula Khan.

Justice Amir Hani Muslim of the SHC also directed the EDO to bring the service book of the Mukhtiarkar of Thana Bula Khan who had been accused of having denied access to the investigating officer of the Anti-Corruption Establishment to the forged revenue record. The Mukhtiarkar and the investigating officer were asked to attended the court on Aug 27.

The order was passed by the judge during hearing of a criminal bail application filed by one Mohammad Moosa who had been granted bail in the matter in a sum of Rs200,000.

The bail application pertained to a fraud of 164 acres of land. The case was lodged by the ACE authorities in April 2,004 against the applicant and 11 others including retired Mukhtiarkars and Tapedars of Thana Bula Khan on the complaint by one Sikandar Ali Bhatti.

The court took on record documents, presented by the investigating officer, which showed reluctance of the Mukhtiarkar to provide the revenue record and other material required for conducting investigation.

The Mukhtiarkar undertook that he would provide entire record or other material to the investigation officer. The court noted that the revenue authorities were bound to cooperate with the investigating agency and provide them attested photostat copies of the record but the cooperation was missing on the part of Mukhtiarkar, for which an appropriate order would be passed in next hearing.

The court directed the additional advocate-general, Sindh, to examine and scrutinize revenue record relating to different entries made therein during the tenures of the Mukhtiarkar and his predecessor and see whether the entries were in accordance with law.

The court took serious notice of forgery in revenue record after the investigating officer of the ACE, Dadu, submitted that at least 300 transactions in Thana Bula Khan were based on forged entries.

The investigation officer claimed that the Mukhtiarkar had extended threats to him through letters. The DCO and the EDO did not appear in the court and sought condonation of their absence on the ground that they were required in Dadu due to a visit of the chief secretary of Sindh.

Their absence was condoned and the matter was adjourned to next date. Both the officials are required to apprise the court in writing as to whether complaints about the matter had been received by them and what action they had taken.