Examiner Bureau |Srinagar:
Srinagar, June 24: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against a former Block Development Officer (BDO), an Executive Engineer and five others for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of government funds earmarked for developmental works in the Lolab and Lalpora areas of Kupwara district.
According to an ACB spokesperson, the chargesheet was presented before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, in connection with FIR No. 02/2020 registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla.
The case pertains to allegations of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and misappropriation of public funds in works executed under the Rural Development Department.
The spokesperson said the investigation uncovered serious irregularities in several projects, including the construction of a Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I and a Fisheries Pond at Diver-B.
“Investigation revealed false measurements, billing for non-existent work, execution of projects on forest land without the requisite permissions and release of payments for deficient and substandard works,” he said.
The probe further found that officials, allegedly in connivance with a beneficiary contractor, manipulated official records, inflated work measurements and facilitated the fraudulent release of government funds, resulting in losses to the state exchequer.
The accused named in the chargesheet are former BDO Sogam/Lalpora Mohd Sultan Bhat, then Executive Engineer REW Kupwara Er. Surinder Kumar Sharma, Assistant Executive Engineer Mohd Shafi Bukhari, Junior Engineers Taimur Ahmad Khan and Nisar Ahmad Khan, Village Level Worker (VLW)/Secretary Panchayat Mohd Saleem Dar, and contractor Waseem Mehmood Khan.
The spokesperson said all seven accused were produced before the court and were granted bail on personal bonds. The court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
The ACB said further legal proceedings in the case will continue before the competent court.
