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| Court rejects bail of NGO's director in corruption case | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 17: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Kashmir RN Wattal rejected the bail application of Zaheer Abbas Bhatti, Director M/S Social Welfare of India-NGO who was booked by the ACB Kashmir. Police report reveals that on the basis of joint surprise check (JSC) conducted to look into allegations of fraud, corruption and embezzlement of public money by one NGO namely M/S Social Welfare of India and officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation in construction of individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL) units under Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM), Scheme. During JSC, it was revealed that vide agreement No. 01 dated 13.05.2018 and allotment order No. SMC/EERRWD/899-903 dated 04.07.2017, the SMC allotted construction of 218 IHHL units 09 Twin Storage Pits to an NGO name M/S Social Welfare of India @ 17490/- per IHHL units and Rs. 12000/- per Twin Storage pit, respectively. Special Judge Anti-Corruption Kashmir RN Wattal after hearing both the sides observed that not a single latrine was constructed on spot and documents were manipulated pursuant to conspiracy to give an impression about the construction of IHHL units on spot. The construction of IHHL units remained on papers only without execution on spot. Resultantly, the government exchequer was defrauded and loss to the tune of Rs 39 lakh was caused to the government exchequer. From the evidence collected by the prosecution till date as reveals from police report, there are genuine reasonable grounds that petitioner has committed offences as referred in FIR. In light of the incriminating material that has come fore against the petitioner during investigation, the stage is not right to grant bail in favour of the petitioner. The investigation in the case is still in its infancy. The officials of Municipality who conspired with the petitioner to defraud the government exchequer by swindling huge amount of money under Swatch Bharat Abiyan are still at large. Moreover, involvement of some influential who were part of the criminal conspiracy with the petitioner, the investigation qua their role is going on. The concession of bail at this stage shall undeniably prejudice and obstruct the further course of investigation as material witnesses being influenced with, cannot be ruled out. On this count also petitioner does not deserve the concession of bail at this stage.
—JNF |
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