Baramulla, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) presented a charge sheet before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Baramulla against five retired education department officials, including two former in-charge Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of Kunzer, in connection with the alleged embezzlement of government funds amounting to ₹26.87 lakh.
The charge sheet follows a detailed investigation into a case registered in 2015 under FIR No. 1/2015 at Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK), now ACB, based on a special audit report highlighting grave financial irregularities during the period 2007 to 2010.
According to the ACB, the audit report — compiled by the office of the Deputy Director Audit & Inspections Kashmir and forwarded by the Chief Education Officer Baramulla to the Commissioner of Vigilance — pointed to serious discrepancies and misappropriation of funds in the ZEO Kunzer office.
Verification revealed that the accused officials, including the then ZEOs Abdul Hamid and Noor Mohammad Parray, along with other staff members, had allegedly misappropriated funds under various budget heads through fraudulent means, including fictitious bills, fake vouchers, double drawls, and other dishonest methods.
The break-up of the alleged embezzlement includes:
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₹11.15 lakh by overdrawing from GP Fund/SLI accounts of teachers
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₹5.34 lakh and ₹3.20 lakh through double drawls of teachers’ salaries
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₹4.92 lakh via fictitious expenditure vouchers
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₹27,222 on unauthorized mobile phone purchases
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₹15,675 on mobile bill payments
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₹89,366 from Red Cross funds
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₹31,156 from building funds
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₹30,000 through a bogus TA bill
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₹4.17 lakh due to discrepancies in non-plan account balances
In total, the accused allegedly siphoned off ₹26,87,307 by “abusing their official positions in a well-knit conspiracy” and violating financial norms, thereby causing a significant loss to the state exchequer.
Those named in the charge sheet include:
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Abdul Hamid – Then In-charge ZEO Kunzer, now retired, resident of Karnah, Kupwara (currently residing in Lawaypora, Srinagar)
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Hilal Ahmad Mir – Then Senior Assistant, now retired, from Mamoosa Pattan, Baramulla
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Noor Mohammad Parray – Then In-charge ZEO Kunzer, now retired, resident of Narbal (currently at Suezeth Lawaypora, Srinagar)
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Nazir Ahmad Rather – Then Head Teacher, Govt. Middle School Gonipora, now retired, resident of Waripora, Baramulla
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Mohammad Yousuf Wani – Then Head Teacher, Govt. Middle School Sagri Batpora, now retired, resident of Kunzer, Baramulla
The officials have been charged under sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006, and Sections 467, 468, 471, 477-A, and 120-B of the RPC for forgery, criminal conspiracy, and dishonest misappropriation.
All five accused were produced before the Anti-Corruption Court and subsequently released on personal bail bonds. The court has fixed August 30, 2025, as the next date of hearing.
The ACB has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring accountability in public service and strict action against corruption in government departments. (KDC)
