Works commenced-completed without tender in 2011, Technical Sanction given in September 2016; Will ACB join CS Dr. Arun Mehta’s crusade against corruption?
Avinash Azad
On Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta’s call the Jammu Kashmir UT is observing Bhrashtachar Mukt week, but at the same more skeletons are tumbling out from the cupboard past, when a Junior Engineer (JE), now an Assistant Engineer (AE) posted on Poonch district made fictitious bills abusing his official position causing huge loss to the state exchequer.
According to documents available with The Hidden News, in 2011 the JE made numerous fictitious bills out of which copies of six are in our possession. “These six bills amounting to Rs 15,58,633 made against the departmentally executed without tender by the department. And the entire payment was made in favor of the maternal uncle of the JE, Mr. Mohd Abass son of Mobeen resident of Dingla, Poonch”, official documents reveal and added that the entire scandal took place in the name of different works on Sekloo-Salloni Road.
Surprisingly, these commenced and were completed in years 2011 under the district plan and state plan, but the Technical Sanction for these works was issued in September, more than five years after the completion of the works.
The JE further abused his official position and went beyond his jurisdiction for unlawful gain for his father-in-law. “A Road work under NABARD falls under subdivision Poonch allotted to his father-in-law, Masood Ahmed (construction of Tangla-Dingla road), but the JE deliberately added Shiendhara link road in the bill, which falls under the subdivision Surankote far beyond his jurisdiction and make bill amounting Rs 49,94,277”, the documents further reveal.
“For the last few years we have continuously, anonymously brought to the notice of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) the past practice of JE, who remained posted in the Poonch district throughout his service, and now he has become AE, but unfortunately, no action has been taken against him till date. During, the visit of ACB team in Poonch he (AE) holds lavish parties in the PWD guest house to save his skin, now he has so many friends in the ACB”, said a contractor, adding that he hopes during Chief Secretary, Bhrashtachar Mukt week ACB also go tough against such officers.
Furthermore, the AE was transferred from R&B Division Poonch to R&B Division Reasi but with the help of the Chief Engineer R&B Jammu he managed his transfer order within six months, as the Chief Engineer has no powers to transfer an AE without the approval of administrative department but in this case, the Chief Engineer R&B Jammu transfer him from Reasi to Jammu within one month and then further PW (R&B) Poonch within five months. A Govt quarter is also allotted in his favor at Poona) house Tallab Tillo having No. J-59 but no HRA is deducted from his salary.
