The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has initiated stringent action against former officials of the Manasbal Development Authority for alleged abuse of official position and misappropriation of government funds.
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An ACB spokesperson stated, “We have registered a case, FIR No. 03/2024, under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station ACB Baramulla.”
The accused officials named in the case are Zulfiqar Mohammad Khan, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bashir Ahmad Baba, the former Executive Engineer, and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh, the former Assistant Executive Engineer/Executive Engineer. Beneficiary contractors, including Ghulam Nabi Mir and Ghulam Nabi Bhat, have also been implicated in the case.
“Our verification revealed that the Wullar Manasbal Development Authority executed approximately 23 civil works during the financial years 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19. Out of these, 18 works were tendered, and in 15 works, illegal and fraudulent extensions ranging from 44% to 218% were granted by the then CEO, Zulfiqar Mohammad Khan, in gross violation of established norms,” the spokesperson elaborated.
The ACB spokesperson further stated, “Five works were illegally and fraudulently executed on an approval basis, without inviting tenders, by the then CEO and Executive Engineers during the period from 2016 to 2019.” According to the preliminary probe, the accused individuals not only granted illegal and fraudulent extensions but also raised and provided exorbitant rates to contractors on various items utilized in the works, violating established norms.
“Experts from the Engineering wing of ACB Kashmir conducted spot inspections and scrutinized records, computing the losses caused and fixing the liabilities of the officers involved. The acts of omission and commission on the part of the accused public servants, in connivance and conspiracy with private beneficiaries (contractors), led to substantial losses to the state exchequer and commensurate undue pecuniary benefits to the contractors,” the spokesperson added.
The ACB spokesperson revealed that immediately after the registration of the FIR, house search warrants were issued by the Honorable Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla. “We conducted searches at multiple locations simultaneously, belonging to the accused persons, in the presence of respective jurisdictional Magistrates. Various incriminating documents have been recovered during the course of these searches.” Concluding the briefing, the spokesperson assured, “Further investigations into the case are ongoing, and we will leave no stone unturned in bringing the culprits to justice.”
