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| False bills, fake measurements, missing works in Kupwara: ACB files chargesheet against 7 | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 24: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has charge-sheeted seven individuals, including six former Rural Development Department (RDD) officials and a contractor, for their alleged involvement in a major development scam in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, where government funds were siphoned off through non-existent and irregularly executed projects.
Investigators found that substantial amounts of public money earmarked for developmental works in the Lolab area were fraudulently withdrawn by officials in alleged connivance with a private contractor. Several projects for which payments were released either existed only on paper or were executed in blatant violation of prescribed norms and procedures.
The charge-sheet was filed before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, following a detailed investigation that uncovered evidence of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and misappropriation of government funds.
According to an ACB spokesperson, the case stemmed from a complaint alleging large-scale irregularities in developmental works undertaken by the Rural Development Department in Block Lolab of Kupwara district. A preliminary verification conducted by the agency revealed serious discrepancies in projects, including the "Construction of Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I" and the "Construction of Fisheries Pond at Diver-B".
Subsequent investigations exposed a pattern of fraudulent practices allegedly adopted by the accused officials and the contractor to facilitate the embezzlement of public funds.
The probe revealed that false measurements were recorded for completed works, while payments were sanctioned for projects that either did not exist or were executed in a deficient and substandard manner. Investigators also found that certain projects had been carried out on forest land without obtaining mandatory permissions from the competent authorities.
The ACB further established that official records were manipulated to justify inflated bills and illegal payments. Fictitious entries relating to the felling of trees were allegedly inserted into departmental records to exaggerate project costs and secure undue financial benefits.
According to the investigation, the accused public servants abused their official positions and acted in concert with the beneficiary contractor to prepare forged documents, inflate measurements, certify incomplete works and authorize the release of government funds in violation of established rules.
Following the receipt of prosecution sanction from the competent authority, the ACB filed a charge-sheet against Mohammad Sultan Bhat, then Block Development Officer (BDO), Sogam-Lalpora; Surinder Kumar Sharma, then Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing (REW), Kupwara Division; Mohammad Shafi Bukhari, then Assistant Executive Engineer, REW Kupwara; Taimur Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Nisar Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Mohammad Saleem Dar, then Village Level Worker and Panchayat Secretary; and contractor Waseem Mehmood Khan.
All the accused were produced before the court and were granted bail after furnishing personal bonds to the satisfaction of the court.
They have been charge-sheeted under various provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, including Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) and 5(2), besides relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
The court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing in the case.
Reiterating its resolve to combat corruption, the ACB said it remains committed to conducting fair, impartial and time-bound investigations and ensuring accountability in cases involving the misuse of public resources.
The charge-sheet is being viewed as a significant step in the agency's ongoing efforts to crack down on corruption in developmental projects and bring those responsible for the alleged diversion of public funds to justice. |
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