Jammu, Apr 20, KDC: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday said it has secured conviction of five former store keepers in a decades-old food grains misappropriation case in Pahalgam, while also filing a chargesheet against a former Block Development Officer (BDO) Kupwara and four others in a separate corruption case.
According to an ACB statement, the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Anantnag, presided over by Ms Masarat Roohi, convicted five accused — Abdul Khaliq Shah, Gh Nabi Mir, Mohd Shafi Rather, Gh Hassan Hajam and Muzaffar Ahmad Bichoo — who were then serving as store keepers in the Food and Supplies Department, Pahalgam Circle.
The statement said the accused were found guilty under Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006 read with Section 409 RPC for misappropriation of food grains and empty bags during the period from April 1989 to September 1989.
The case, it said, originated from a complaint by the Deputy Director Food and Supplies Department Srinagar in 1989, alleging embezzlement to the tune of ₹3,64,235.84, following which an FIR was registered in 1990. After completion of investigation, the chargesheet was filed in 2003, culminating in conviction after the court appreciated the evidence on record.
“The Hon’ble Court has listed the case for arguments on quantum of punishment on April 24, 2026,” the ACB statement said, terming the verdict a significant step in ensuring accountability in public service.
In another development, the ACB said it has presented a chargesheet in a separate case against the then BDO Kupwara, Abdul Majeed Ganie, along with two other public servants and two private individuals for alleged misappropriation of government funds.
As per the statement, the case stemmed from a शिकायत received through the ACB grievance portal in July 2021, alleging embezzlement of funds meant for developmental works in Block Kupwara.
“Investigation revealed that the accused public servants, in connivance with private beneficiaries, hatched a criminal conspiracy and siphoned off government funds by manipulating official records and fabricating electronic data,” the ACB said.
It further stated that fraudulent Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) were generated to divert funds into unauthorised bank accounts, including those of relatives and associates. The probe also uncovered instances of double withdrawals, payments for non-existent works and misappropriation through job card holders.
“The accused, by abuse of their official position, caused a loss of ₹4,86,170 to the state exchequer,” the statement added.
The ACB said offences under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and RPC have been established, and the chargesheet has been presented before the competent court for judicial determination. (KDC)
