ACB Charge-Sheets Former Executive Engineer, Storekeeper in Rs 2.13 Crore PHE Embezzlement Case
Srinagar, June 25, KNT: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has filed a charge-sheet against two retired officials of the erstwhile Public Health Engineering (Hydraulic) Division, Bandipora, for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement and misappropriation of government store material valued at over Rs 2.13 crore.
The charge-sheet has been filed before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, against Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, the then Senior Assistant/Storekeeper, and Mukhtar Ahmad Mir, the then In-charge Executive Engineer, PHE (Hydraulic) Division, Bandipora.
According to the ACB, the case originated from source information alleging large-scale embezzlement of government store material procured by the division during the 2011-12 financial year. An open verification conducted by the then Vigilance Organization Kashmir reportedly revealed significant shortages and deficiencies in government stores, leading to the registration of the case.
During the investigation, the ACB alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and dishonestly misappropriated substantial quantities of GI pipes, Union GI pipes, QCC pipes and TOR steel (TMT bars), resulting in a substantial loss to the government.
The Bureau stated that while the initial verification had assessed the loss at around Rs 65.11 lakh, the detailed investigation established the actual loss to the State exchequer at Rs 2,13,16,362.
The investigation further revealed that Bashir Ahmad Sheikh allegedly continued to function as Storekeeper and retained control of the divisional stores even after his retirement with the knowledge and permission of Mukhtar Ahmad Mir. The ACB alleged that mandatory supervision, physical verification and reconciliation of government stores were not carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Financial Code.
The investigating agency concluded that both accused, by allegedly abusing their official positions and acting in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy, dishonestly misappropriated government property, causing wrongful loss to the State exchequer.
The accused were produced before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, who admitted them to bail after they furnished personal bail bonds.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 5, 2026. [KNT]
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