Baramulla, Apr 29 (KNO): Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said to have presented a charge-sheet before Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Baramulla, against ZEO Chandanwari & Jr Asst for misappropriation and embezzlement of over Rs 27 lacs out of scholarship funds meant for Gujjar Bakerwal & Pahari speaking students.
A spokesman in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that "on receipt of a complaint titled Ghulam Qadir Mir versus Education Zone Boniyar through State Vigilance Commission J&K for conducting probe into the allegations of fraud and embezzlement in scholarship funds of Pahari speaking and Gujjar-Bakerwal students in Education Zone Chandanwari, district Baramulla, a verification was conducted during which allegations levelled in complaint were substantiated."
"Accordingly on the basis of findings and recommendations of the Enquiry Officer, three separate cases/FIRs including the case FIR No. 19/2018 & two other similar cases, i.e., FIR No. 20/2018 & FIR No. 21/2018 were registered at Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir (P/S VOK), (Now Police Station Anti-Corruption Bureau Baramulla) against different officers/officials of three different education zones of District Baramulla for misappropriation/embezzlement of scholarship funds and investigations were initiated .After registration of case thorough investigations were conducted by anti-corruption Bureau into the allegations of fraud/ embezzlement in scholarship funds meant for Pahari Speaking and Gujjar-Bakerwal students in Education Zone Chandanwari, District Baramulla during academic years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 by the accused public servants of education department," reads the statement.
The investigtaions conducted revealed that an amount approx. 27 lac was embezzled/ misappropriated by the accused public servants which was meant for the students belonging to Gujjar & Bakerwal community of education zone chandanwari District Baramulla during the academic year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, it added.
"The vital records i.e. Acquittance Registers for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 were maintained by accused in which fictitious names of nonexistent students were inserted, and huge amount was shown disbursed against fictitious students. Moreover, it was also found that the funds for Gujjar and Bakerwal students for the year 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 were obtained on the higher side than the actual roll & an excess amount of Rs. 23,15,400 was also embezzled/misappropriated by the accused public servants in conspiracy with each other."
Investigtaions conducted reval that accused public servants in connivance with one another by abuse of their official position & authority acted in violation of laid down norms of disbursement and also added many fictitious names of students from Gujjar Bakerwal /Pahari speaking categories thereby inflating the actual number of beneficiary students ,by this way they not only conferred undue pecuniary benefits upon themselves but also caused commensurate loss to state exchequer, reads the statement.
"After completion of investigations the charge Sheet (Challan) of the case as envisaged under section 173 Cr.PC was submitted before Hon’ble Court of Spl Judge anti-corruption court Baramulla against accused public servants (1). Abdul Rashid Mir, the then Zonal Education Officer Chandanwari (Now retired) S/o Abdul Gaffar Mir R/o Hundi Nowshera Uri, A/P Gantmulla Bala Baramulla and (2). Bashir Ahmad Lone, the then Junior Assistant in the Office of ZEO Chandanwari (Now retired) S/o Wali Mohammad Lone R/o Bijhama Boniyar Uri under sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act. Samvat 2006, and Section 468, 471, 201 & 120-B RPC for judicial determination. Both the accused were presented before Hon’ble court who were released by court after taking bail bound," it reads, adding that next date for hearing has been fixed by court as 15-07-2025—(KNO)