Srinagar, Jan 2: In one of the largest corruption cases reported in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 108 persons in connection with large-scale embezzlement of government funds and illegal appointments in the Electric Division Sumbal.
According to an official statement, the chargesheet has been submitted in FIR No. 25/2018 under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla.
The accused include 15 Executive Engineers, six Assistant Accounts Officers, one Accounts Assistant, six Head Assistants, four Senior Assistants, four Junior Assistants and one Orderly, all posted in the Electric Division Sumbal. Among the accused is Mushtaq Ahmad Malik of Aragam, Bandipora, identified by investigators as the key conspirator. The chargesheet also names 25 officers and officials of J&K Bank’s Sumbal Sonawari branch, along with 46 individuals who were allegedly appointed illegally as fake employees.
The case was registered following credible inputs indicating that the Drawing and Disbursing Officer, in collusion with departmental officials and bank personnel, fraudulently withdrew crores of rupees from government accounts and facilitated illegal appointments. The investigation revealed large-scale diversion and misappropriation of public funds.
During the probe, crores of rupees were recovered from the prime accused and deposited into the government treasury. Investigators also found that substantial amounts had been transferred to multiple bank accounts of the accused, including savings and term deposit accounts, along with accrued interest.
The government has accorded sanction for prosecution against the accused, following which the chargesheet has been filed before the competent court for judicial proceedings.
