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| Court frames charges against former GM Govt. Press, Ors | | | Early Times report
Jammu, May 12- The Court of Special Judge Anti Corruption Kashmir has framed charges against four accused persons of Government Press for purchasing a printing press on exorbitant rates thereby causing loss of Rs.6.21 lakhs to the state exchequer.
The accused included Abdul Majid Chicken, then General Manager Government Press Srinagar, Opinderjit Singh, then Accounts Officer, Mohammed Amin Bhat, then General Manager Industries Srinagar and Zahoor Ahmad Shah Proprietor M/s Mount Printers Srinagar.
Case FIR No.6/2005 P/S VOK was registered on Mar 19, 2005 following a verification conducted by the SVO which revealed that the above named accused persons after entering into a criminal conspiracy have purchased a printing machine in the year 1996 for Rs.25.42 lakhs when the original cost of the machine was Rs.17.17 lakhs only.
In the course of investigation it was established that General Manager Government Press Srinagar floated tenders for purchase of Automatic Single Colour Sheet Fed of offset machine preferably attached with numbering facility in the standard size with complete specifications and the last date of receipt of bids was repeatedly extended from time to time up to September 12, 1996. Five tenders were received which were opened by the purchase committee. Despite having the knowledge that the equipment / machinery costs much less, the accused General Manager placed supply order with the proprietor M/s Mount Printers Zahoor Ahmad Shah for supply of the machine for Rs.25.42 lakhs (inclusive of taxes). The investigation further disclosed that Shah was actually an SSI unit holder and had purchased this machine for establishment of his printing press for Rs.17.17 lakhs exclusive of taxes.
The accused in furtherance of a conspiracy manipulated record and purchased the same machine for Rs.25.42 lakhs thereby causing a loss of Rs.6.21 to the state exchequer. The involvement of the accused officials was established on the basis of documentary evidence. After accord of sanction for prosecution from the Government, challan of the case was produced in the court of law along with the accused on July 17, 2007.
The Court, after hearing the arguments from the prosecution, observed the moot question for consideration of the court at this stage is whether prima facie case for framing the charge is made out against the accused. After hearing the parties and after going through the record the Court observed that prima facie offence punishable under section 5(2) P.C Act read with 120-B RPC is made out against the accused. The accused were accordingly charged. They pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution is thus directed to adduce evidence in support of the charge; the Court directed and fixed June 6 as next date for hearing.
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