Srinagar, June 24 (IANS) J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) said on Wednesday that it has presented the chargesheet in court against a former Block Development Officer (BDO), an Executive Engineer, and five others in a case of embezzlement of government funds.

A statement said, “ACB J&K has filed a charge-sheet before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, in FIR No. 02/2020 of Police Station ACB Baramulla against six public servants and one beneficiary contractor for their alleged involvement in a case of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and embezzlement of government funds meant for developmental works in Block Lolab/Lalpora, District Kupwara.”

The case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale irregularities in developmental works executed through the Rural Development Department in Block Lolab, Kupwara.

Verification conducted by the then Vigilance Organization Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau) revealed serious irregularities in the execution of the works, namely, “Construction of Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I” and “Construction of Fisheries Pond at Diver-B.”

The verification disclosed false measurements, billing of non-existent work components, execution of works on forest land without requisite permissions and release of payments against deficient and substandard works.

Consequently, FIR No. 02/2020 was registered, and an investigation was initiated. The investigation revealed that the accused public servants, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with the beneficiary contractor, abused their official positions by facilitating the fraudulent execution of works, the preparation of false records, the inflation of measurements, and the unauthorised release of government funds.

The probe revealed a loss to the government exchequer due to non-existent works, excess measurements, substandard execution, and fraudulent claims. It was further found that fictitious entries relating to the felling of trees had been incorporated in official records to inflate bills and secure undue pecuniary benefits.

Upon receipt of the requisite prosecution sanction from the competent authority in respect of the in-service public servants, the Anti-Corruption Bureau filed the charge-sheet against Mohd. Sultan Bhat, then Block Development Officer, Sogam/Lalpora; Er. Surinder Kumar Sharma, then Executive Engineer, REW Division Kupwara; Mohd. Shafi Bukhari, then Assistant Executive Engineer, REW Kupwara; Taimur Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Nisar Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Mohd. Saleem Dar, then Village Level Worker/Secretary Panchayat, and Waseem Mehmood Khan, beneficiary contractor.

All the accused were produced before the Hon’ble Court and were admitted to bail upon furnishing personal bonds to the satisfaction of the Court.

The accused have been charge-sheeted for offences punishable under Section 5(1)(c) read with Section 5(1)(d) and Section 5(2) of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, along with other relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

The Court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing in the case.

“The Anti-Corruption Bureau, J&K, remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting thorough, impartial and expeditious investigations into corruption cases and ensuring that all those responsible for corruption and misuse of public resources are brought to justice in accordance with law,” the statement added.

–IANS

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