SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday said it has filed a chargesheet against seven accused, including six public servants and a contractor, in an alleged corruption and embezzlement case involving government funds meant for developmental works in Kupwara district.
According to an ACB statement, the chargesheet was filed before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, in FIR No. 02/2020 of Police Station ACB Baramulla.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in developmental works executed through the Rural Development Department in Block Lolab/Lalpora of Kupwara district.
The statement said the case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale irregularities in the execution of two works — “Construction of Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I” and “Construction of Fisheries Pond at Diver-B”.
Verification conducted by the then Vigilance Organization Kashmir, now Anti-Corruption Bureau, revealed alleged false measurements, billing of non-existent work components, execution of works on forest land without required permissions and release of payments for deficient and substandard works.
Following verification, FIR No. 02/2020 was registered and investigation was initiated.
The investigation revealed that the accused public servants, in alleged conspiracy with the beneficiary contractor, abused their official positions by facilitating fraudulent execution of works, preparing false records, inflating measurements and authorising release of government funds, the ACB said.
According to the statement, the investigation established losses to the government exchequer due to non-existent works, excess measurements, substandard execution and fraudulent claims. It was also found that fictitious entries regarding felling of trees had allegedly been incorporated into official records to inflate bills and obtain undue financial benefits.
After obtaining the required prosecution sanction from the competent authority, the ACB filed the chargesheet against Mohammad Sultan Bhat, then Block Development Officer Sogam/Lalpora; Er. Surinder Kumar Sharma, then Executive Engineer, REW Division Kupwara; 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/Secretary Panchayat; and Waseem Mehmood Khan, beneficiary contractor.
All the accused were produced before the court and admitted to bail after furnishing personal bonds, the statement said.
The accused have been chargesheeted under Section 5(1)(c) read with Sections 5(1)(d) and 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, along with other relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing in the case. — (KIMS)