Jammu, May 10: Probing the land allotment scam in Jammu Development Authority, Jammu and Kashmir Housing and Urban Development Ministry has found irregularities in the allotment and accounts records, which it has seized, and sent vice-chairman Aslam Quarshi on leave, official sources said here today. Special secretary Abdul Hamid Wani, who began investigation into the alleged illegal allotments on Thursday, seized records including 310 allotment files of residential plots, commercial buildings and shops and 298 accounts, the sources told a news agency.

JDA vice-chairman has been asked to go on leave during the probe period. The sources said, "Huge financial losses have been caused to JDA by these irregular allotments, which had been done at lower price and allotted to kiths and kin of former NC leaders."

As per preliminary investigation, most files do not contain income certificates of revenue officers for economically weaker section allotments, the sources said.

Some cases of EWs category land being allotted to those with higher income have also come to light, they said. Quarshi, who had been close to former NC government, particularly former housing minister Gulam Mohiden Shah is alleged to have allotted plots and shops at lower prices on the direction of previous government, the sources said.

All these allotments have been made without public advertisement ignoring rights of general public for applying for such allotments, they said.

Bureau Report