Srinagar, Dec 16, KDC: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in connection with FIR No. 03/2022, relating to serious allegations of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and abuse of official position.
The chargesheet has been presented under Sections 420, 468 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, against three accused persons. The accused have been identified as Gh. Mohi-ud-Din Dar, the then President of Municipal Committee Budgam, son of Gh. Qadir and resident of Khanpora Budgam; Gh. Mohammad Mir, son of Ali Mohammad Mir, resident of Budgam; and Abdul Majid Bhat, son of Mohammad Akbar Bhat, also a resident of Budgam.
According to Crime Branch Kashmir, the case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale embezzlement and illegal allotment of a government-owned municipal building belonging to the Municipal Committee Budgam. During the investigation, it was revealed that the then President of MC Budgam misused and abused his official position to confer undue and wrongful benefits upon co-accused Gh. Mohammad Mir.
The investigation further established that the allotment order of the municipal building, purportedly issued on the basis of a Municipal Committee resolution and approval from the Director Urban Local Bodies (ULB), Kashmir, was forged and non-existent. It was found that no such resolution or approval had ever been granted by the competent authority.
Crime Branch Kashmir stated that the accused persons entered into a criminal conspiracy and prepared fake and fabricated documents, including a forged allotment order, without any lawful authority. During the course of investigation, all three accused were examined and admitted their involvement in the execution of the partnership deed, dissolution deed, and the issuance of the fake allotment order.
Based on substantial oral and documentary evidence collected during the probe, offences under Sections 120-B, 420, and 468 RPC have been established against all the accused. Additionally, the former President of Municipal Committee Budgam has been charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for abusing his official position to obtain wrongful gain for a private individual.
Crime Branch Kashmir has stated that the chargesheet has been submitted before the competent court for judicial adjudication, and further proceedings in the matter will now be taken up by the court. (KDC)
