EOW Kashmir chargesheets 108 accused persons in corruption scam

Srinagar, Jan 2: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir on Friday said to have filed a chargesheet against 108 accused persons in a massive embezzlement and fake appointment case linked to the Electric Division Sumbal.
The accused include senior engineers, accounts officers, bank officials and fake appointees, allegedly involved in siphoning off crores of rupees in government funds.
According to a statement, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar of the Crime Branch has submitted the charge-sheet in FIR No. 25/2018 under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla. The charge-sheet has been filed against 108 accused persons in connection with a major case involving embezzlement of Government funds and illegal appointments in Electric Division Sumbal.
It reads, the accused include 15 Executive Engineers, 06 Assistant Accounts Officers, 01 Accounts Assistant, 06 Head Assistants, 04 Senior Assistants (including the kingpin Mushtaq Ahmad Malik S/o Sonaullah Malik R/o Aragam, Bandipora), 04 Junior Assistants and 01 Orderly, all of whom were posted in Electric Division Sumbal. The charge-sheet also names 25 officers and officials of J&K Bank, Branch Sumbal Sonawari, besides 46 fake employees who were illegally appointed.
“The case was registered following credible information that the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), in connivance with other officials of the department and bank officials, fraudulently drew crores of rupees from Government accounts and facilitated fake appointments. Investigation established large-scale commission of offences, including diversion of Government funds.”
The statement reads, during the investigation, crores of rupees were recovered from the accused kingpin Mushtaq Ahmad Malik and deposited into the Government Treasury. It further emerged that substantial amounts were transferred to multiple bank accounts of the accused, including savings accounts and term deposits, along with accrued interest.
“The Government had accorded sanction for prosecution against the accused persons and accordingly chargesheet submitted before the competent court for judicial adjudication,” the statement reads further. (KNO)