The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a Preliminary Enquiry into the alleged violations of the Master Plan of Patnitop area (Jammu & Kashmir) by hotel owners and commercial establishment owners.

Investigation will be done on the conspiracy with public servants serving at Patnitop Development Authority and others. An inquiry has been initiated by the CBI after order by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu on December 31, 2019.

The order was passed by the court after a PIL was filed by the president of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Patnitop, J&K.

In the PIL, allegations were made about glaring violations of the Master Plan of Patnitop area, resulting in 70 per cent of the hotels and restaurants having been constructed without permission.

The PIL also claims that constructions were illegally done on green buffer areas, forest land, state land including Kahcharai land in connivance with officials of Patnitop Development Authority and others.

The federal probe agency has constituted a team of more than30 officers and officials who are presently camping at Patnitop, Udhampur and Jammu in connection with this inquiry. The preliminary investigation is registered to verify the allegations and gather evidence. If the allegations are found true, then an FIR will be registered.