Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 26: A DSP of Crime Branch, who has been tasked with probing backdoor appointments and other embezzlement in the Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (SICOP), has got his son promoted there.
The Crime Branch had registered multiple cases in Srinagar against the SICOP in 2014, a secret enquiry was conducted in month of June-July 2014. DSP Mohammad Shafi Dar was investigating the cases related to 290 backdoor appointments, illegal promotion of nine officers to the rank of General Managers, supply of defective looms, and pilferage of material from government depot Zainakot worth Rs 170 lakh.
Interestingly, Dar's son Owais Ahmad was working as a junior engineer in SICOP's Project Wing on casual basis when he was asked to probe the frauds in the corporation.
Ironically, few days back when Dar took over the investigation, his son Owais was promoted and placed in the minimum pay band of Rs 5200-20200 with grade pay of Rs 1800 "purely on temporary basis", for a period of six months, according to an order (SICOP/DGM/(P)/14-14/414-21, dated October 1, 2014).
Sources said the order was issued in backdate by Deputy General Manager on dictate of Managing Director of SICOP to please Dar. "The Crime Branch registered a case under preliminary verification in 2014, but Dar's son was shown to have been promoted in October 2014. The order was deliberately predated so that no one smells a rat," sources said.
Crime Branch registered PV number 36/2014, following a secret enquiry conducted by the agency. "During the secret enquiry conducted in month of June-July 2014, backdoor appointments and other irregularities were surfaced during the enquiry, latter PV was registered", sources claimed.
The State Vigilance Organisation Jammu had also registered case in the SICOP frauds. About 150 of the 290 backdoor appointees belong to Kishtwar, the native district of then Minister of State for Industries, Sajjad Kichloo.
"The illegal promotion of nine officers as General Manager was also ordered by Kichloo. Kichloo is also believed to be involved in the supply of defective looms, pilferage of material from government depot Zainakot," sources said.
They said all these cases are under investigation with the Crime Branch and the Vigilance Organization since 2014 but to no avail.
MD, SICOP, did not respond the call on his cell number 94191-83675 despite repeated attempts made by this correspondent.
Meanwhile, SP Crime Branch, Srinagar Shahid Mehraj Rather could also ne not contacted despite repeated attempts to these numbers 0194- 2474230, 2473803 available on Crime Branch's website. |
