ED attaches four Patnitop hotels over illegal construction allegations
The Enforcement Directorate provisionally attached properties valued at nearly Rs 10.66 crore in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached four hotels in the Patnitop hill resort of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. According to The Indian Express, the properties, which include buildings and land, are valued at nearly Rs 10.66 crore.
The investigation follows an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu. The CBI case involves owners and directors of various hospitality properties in Patnitop and officials from the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA).
The allegations involve the commercial use of residential buildings, construction exceeding approved limits, and operating businesses in prohibited zones such as agricultural, residential, and dense forest areas. An ED spokesperson said one hotel had built 7,552.74 square feet of unauthorised construction despite having sanctioned permission.
The spokesperson stated that hotels were being operated commercially without the necessary permissions. Consequently, the buildings, unauthorised structures, and land have been attached as proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In 2023, the CBI filed six chargesheets against eight hotel owners and several PDA officials under various acts, including the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act. The ED previously attached properties worth approximately Rs 30.72 crore in the same case in 2025.
The ED spokesperson added that further investigation into the matter is currently underway.