Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 10: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today chargesheeted 10 persons, including two former Executive Engineers of the Public Works (R&B) Department, in a case involving alleged misappropriation of Government store material, fraudulent release of security deposits and other financial irregularities in the construction of a steel bridge at Lastiyal-Kalaroose in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
The case pertains to an alleged loss of Rs 7.12 lakh to the Government exchequer caused by alleged connivance between public servants and a private contractor, according to the ACB.
The chargesheet was presented before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla against nine public servants and a private contractor.
The investigation found that Government store material, including cement and steel, worth around Rs 5.63 lakh remained unaccounted for and was not recovered after the contractor abandoned the bridge project.
The work for construction of the Lastiyal-Kalaroose steel bridge was allotted to contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone in September 2010, with a stipulated completion period of three months.
However, the contractor allegedly started the work after considerable delay, executed only part of it and subsequently abandoned the project.
The ACB said departmental store material issued for the work remained unaccounted for, resulting in a loss to the government.
The investigation also found that the contractor's Cash Deposit Receipt (CDR) of Rs 73,000 was allegedly released and encashed on the basis of a forged communication purportedly issued by the competent departmental authority.
Besides this, Bill Deposits amounting to Rs 81,400 were allegedly released despite outstanding government liabilities, the agency said.
The investigation also brought out alleged lapses by engineering and accounts officials in safeguarding government material, enforcing contractual conditions and ensuring recovery of Government dues.
The ACB said the investigation was initiated following an Open Verification conducted by the erstwhile Vigilance Organisation Kashmir into allegations of loss to the state exchequer in connivance with officials of PWD(R&B) Division, Kupwara.
After completion of the investigation, prosecution sanction was obtained against the in-service public servants.
The ACB said the chargesheet was filed on the basis of oral, documentary, scientific and other evidence collected during the probe.
Those chargesheeted include Abdul Majeed Malik, then Helper/Assistant Cashier; Ghulam Rasool Lone, then Cashier/Senior Assistant; Mohammad Sultan Sheikh (retired), then Executive Engineer; Ajit Singh Chopra (retired), then Executive Engineer; Nazir Ahmad Shah (retired), then Assistant Executive Engineer; Abdul Rashid Dar (retired), then Assistant Executive Engineer; Manzoor Ahmad Sumji, then Junior Engineer; Gh. Qadir Bhat (retired), then Assistant Accounts Officer; Abdul Hamid Dar, then Assistant Accounts Officer; and contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone.
The ACB said the alleged irregularities collectively resulted in a total loss of Rs 7,12,150 to the government exchequer.
