Muhammad Mukaram
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: A tainted official has been promoted on a plum post in J&K Cements Limited (JKCL) despite an objection raised by a top bureaucrat.
Ex-Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer of JKCL, Qaiser Ahmed Wani, was promoted as General Manager (GM) of the Corporation last year. Wani was elevated notwithstanding an order from Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce (No. IND/JKCL/12/2010, dated 22/7/2014) that he should not be given any responsibility.
Wani was allegedly involved in a Rs 100 crore scam in the JKCL last year. An official document with Early Times describes Wani as "careless" as he had released the payment without following due procedure. The Corporation had ordered a probe into the scam.
The inquiry report was prepared by a four-member team constituted by the Industries Department. The team found Wani and few other officials responsible for illegal appointments and purchasing of substandard items costing over Rs 100 crore. The probe panel had indicted Wani, and Secretary JKCL, Sheikh Ghulam Nabi was asked to hand over the report to the State Vigilance Organization (SVO).
Despite being found involved in the scam, Wani was promoted as GM of the Corporation, purportedly due to the political influence and his close association with Managing Director Rakesh Sharma.
"As a matter of rule, in such cases the accused is immediately put under suspension to facilitate a fair probe. However, despite being aware about the scam and the probe findings, MD Rakesh Sharma did not act," said an official. "This indicates that corruption and nepotism are the only considerations while appointing people on top posts," he said.
"Wani has managed his plum position in the JK Cements with the help of some babus sitting in the Civil Secretariat, rendering a serious blow to promotion chances of deserving candidates," said another official.
According to insiders in JKCL, the current Financial Advisor and CAO has been relieved of all the charges as the tainted MD is secretly dealing and operating the accounts with the Manager Finance, Abdul Rashid Bhat.
"The downfall of the JKCL is because of bureaucratic intervention, wrong decision-making and government's negligence," the sources said.
When contacted, Rakesh Sharma defended the tainted GM. "(Wani) is a very gentle person. Accordingly, the JKCL Board has promoted him as (GM)," Sharma told Early Times.
He feigned ignorance about the multi crore scam and other alleged frauds in the corporation. |
