On February 25, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau did what many doubted possible. At 6 a.m., ACB teams raided the Jammu home of Inspector Vijay Singh Choudhary in Santokh Vihar, Kaluchak. They searched his properties in Rajouri too. The case? Disproportionate assets. ACB says the police inspector owns more than 10 properties—houses, shops, flats—plus over 100 kanals of land worth crores. This wealth, officials state, far exceeds his known salary and sources of income.
Vijay Choudhary is the brother of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary. The Deputy CM holds a powerful post in the government. Yet ACB moved ahead. They acted on specific inputs, verified the allegations, found prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, registered FIR No. 02/2026 at Police Station ACB Central, and carried out the searches with court warrants.
This is bold action. In Jammu and Kashmir, where family ties to power often shield people, ACB refused to look away. The Deputy CM called it revenge-driven and linked to stalled promotion. He said his brother fought terrorists bravely in Gursai, Thanamandi, Doda, and Supwal, and deserved reward, not raids. But ACB did not back off. They treated the case on facts—assets in family names, huge land holdings—not on blood relations or service record.
This sets an example. For years, people in J&K have seen corruption cases stall when big names get involved. Politicians, their kin, or connected officers escape scrutiny. Today, ACB proved the law can reach even the Deputy CM’s family. No automatic protection. No delay because of rank or relation.
Society needs this. When the anti-graft body acts without fear, it builds trust. Common people—who face daily bribes, see illegal mining, or watch public money vanish—feel the system works. It tells every officer: serve honestly, or face consequences, no matter who your brother is.
Of course, the case must end fairly. If evidence proves the assets are clean, clear the name fast. If not, punish without delay. But the start is strong: ACB showed independence and guts.
In a region rebuilding after years of conflict, fair institutions matter most. Raiding the brother of a sitting Deputy CM sends one clear message—no one is above the law. People of Jammu and Kashmir should applaud this step toward real accountability.
