Jammu, Nov 2 (JKNS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹10.66 crore, including four hotels in the popular hill resort of Patnitop in Udhampur district, in connection with an alleged land encroachment and illegal construction case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to an ED spokesperson as per news agency JKNS, the latest attachment covers the land and buildings of Hotel Holiday Inn, Hotel Broadway, Hotel Hollywood and Hotel Mountview in Patnitop.
With this fresh action, the cumulative value of properties provisionally attached in the case has reached approximately ₹41.38 crore. The agency had earlier issued two provisional attachment orders in 2025, attaching properties worth around ₹30.72 crore.
The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBI-ACB), Jammu, against various hotel, guest house, resort, cottage and residential property owners, along with officials of the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA).
The investigation concerns allegations of commercial exploitation of residential buildings, construction beyond sanctioned limits and operation of commercial establishments in prohibited zones, including dense forest, agricultural and residential areas. The agency also found alleged regulatory lapses on the part of PDA officials in enforcing prescribed rules and regulations.
In 2023, the CBI filed six chargesheets against eight hotel owners associated with six hotels and several PDA officials under various provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Ranbir Penal Code, Registration of Tourist Trade Act and Jammu and Kashmir Forest Act.
During its investigation, the ED found that Hotel Holiday Inn had allegedly raised unauthorised construction measuring 7,552.74 square feet beyond its sanctioned building plan, despite having obtained building permission.
Similarly, Hotel Broadway, Hotel Hollywood and Hotel Mountview were allegedly operating commercially without obtaining the requisite permissions to run hotels.
The ED said the hotel buildings, unauthorised constructions, adjoining land and other identified properties equivalent in value to the proceeds generated through the alleged unauthorised commercial exploitation had been provisionally attached as proceeds of crime under the PMLA.
Further investigation into the case is underway, the spokesperson added. (JKNS)
