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| Brick Supply Scam: ACB files chargesheet against former PDP MLA, JKPCC officials | | Attempt to defame me,’ says Abdul Rahim Rather | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Srinagar, August 06: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has produced Challan against former MLA Kokernag and three other officials of Jammu Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation for committing criminal conspiracy and forging documents to cause loss to state exchequer.
In a statement, issued to the media, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed challan of case FIR no. 26/2011 of Police Station Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (now Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Srinagar), in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Anantnag.
The ACB has filed charges of criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit cheating/fraud and corruption against four persons: a) Abdul Rahim Rather S/O Mohammad Ahsan Rather R/O Nagam, Kokernag presently R/O Gulshanabad, tehsil and District Anantnag; b) Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar (retired as Superintendent Engineer from Rural Engineering Wing Kashmir of PWD R&B J&K) S/O Late MohaACB files charge sheet against former MLA Kokernag and othersmmad Yousuf Zargar R/O Opposite Beeco Gallery, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar; c) Bashir Ahmad Bhat (Draftsman, JKPCC Unit 2nd Srinagar) S/O Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/O Herpora, Rathsuna tehsil Tral and d) Mohammad Yousuf Dar (Senior Assistant, JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam) S/O Abdul Rehman Dar R/O Kavpora, Marhama tehsil Bijbehara. The probe agency said that the matter pertains to the period of 2008-2010, during which J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited was mandated with execution of the jobs of construction of several buildings for various government offices in district Kulgam, including one for Mini Secretariat cum D.C office Kulgam.
Abdul Rahim Rather ,who owns many brick kilns, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, the then Deputy General Manager JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Draftsman JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, the then Camp Clerk JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam- with an object to secure for himself bulk orders for supply of bricks required for construction of buildings to house various government offices in district Kulgam, by corrupt and illegal means from JKPCC, ACB said.
“To pursue the object of the conspiracy, these four persons, in connivance with each other, forged documents. They misused these forged documents to ensure exclusion of all other bidders from participation in fair competition and to keep bidders away from winning tenders for supply of bricks to JKPCC unit Kulgam,” reads the issued press statement.
According to the statement then DGM, Ishfaq Ahmad intentionally gave limited publicity to notices inviting tenders for supply of bricks, by publishing NIT’s in a newspaper sparingly circulated in district Kulgam. All this was done to issue orders for supply of bricks to said Abdul Rahim Rather (beneficiary) at rates exorbitantly higher than even the highest selling rates inclusive of carriage charges of the bricks prevalent at that time in the area. Orders for supply of 918833 bricks @ Rs. 4.44 per brick was issued in favour of the blue eyed boy in contrast to the highest sale rate of Rs. 3.76 per brick inclusive of carriage charges prevalent at the time.
The agency said that as a result, wrongful loss of Rs. 62, 4, 806 was caused to the public exchequer. The Vigilance Organization (now Anti Corruption Bureau) had registered FIR no. 26/2011 under various sections of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Ranbir Penal Code.
“Evidence was collected and a case of corruption and other crime was established during investigation against the four accused persons. Accordingly, the accused in the case were produced in police custody before the court today for further judicial determination,” it added.
Abdul Rahim Rather, former MLA Kokernag, however rebutted the allegations and claimed that all this was being done deliberately to defame him.
“It 20 years old case and we have followed all the rules. The allegations are malicious and an attempt to defame me,” he said.
Rather said that there was always disparity between Government fixed rates and market rates of bricks.
“JKPCC floated tenders thrice but didn’t receive any response. They approached us but we declined to provide but then they insisted after checking the crushing strength of our bricks,” he said, adding facts must come in public domain.
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