ACB books JKAS officer in disproportionate assets case

Srinagar, May 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday registered a Disproportionate Assets case against a Chief Accounts Officer over allegations of acquiring assets worth crores beyond his known sources of income, officials said.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the Jammu & Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against Zafar Iqbal-JKAS, Chief Accounts Officer, S/O Mir Hussain R/O Gursai, Mendhar, Poonch, residing at Bathindi, Jammu and presently posted in the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, Srinagar.
He said, the case was registered following a Secret Verification conducted by the ACB into allegations that the accused public servant had accumulated huge assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
“Verification revealed that while serving at different postings, the accused allegedly abused his official position and acquired assets worth crores of rupees in his own name as well as in the names of his family members and relatives.”
The spokesperson said, on the basis of the verification, a prima facie case of criminal misconduct was established against the accused, who was then serving as Treasury Officer, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and is presently posted as Chief Accounts Officer in the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Srinagar.
“Accordingly, FIR No. 06/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Central, Jammu under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, search warrants were obtained from the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu,” he said.
“Subsequently, searches were conducted by ACB teams at the residential premises of the accused at Bathindi, Jammu and Gursai, Mendhar, Poonch, besides his official residence at Sanat Nagar, Srinagar. During the searches, incriminating documents related to movable and immovable properties were recovered and seized. Further investigation in the case is in progress.” (KNO)