ACB books Class IV employee for accruing crores in assets
Srinagar, Sep 01: In a shocking revelation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jammu and Kashmir has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mohd Shafi Rather, a Class IV employee in the Department of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Baramulla. The ACB alleges that Rather has amassed disproportionate assets worth crores through corrupt practices.
“A Verification was conducted by ACB J&K to look into the allegation that Mohd Shafi Rather, class 4th employee (kandaman) in the office of Assistant Director Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Baramulla has amassed huge assets by indulging in corrupt practices which are disproportionate to his know source of income,” ACB said in a statement to Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir dot Com.
“The verification conducted revealed that the suspect initially worked as commission agent in fair price shop subsequently appointed as kandaman (class 4th ) in CAPD Baramulla and mostly worked in office of AD food Baramulla, during which he in connivance with other officers/officials by indulging in corrupt practices came in possession of huge assets in the shape of immovable/ movable properties and has also made huge investments/expenditures.”
“During verification, it was found that by indulging in corrupt practices said kandamna class ivth employee has amassed assets of crores of rupees in shape of land at jammu & other different places, houses & other items. The description of these huge properties/ expenditures investments which surfaced during verification are;- Double Storey Residential House (under construction) at Wanigam Bala, Pattan worth Rs. 40.34 lacs, Construction of Double Stories House at Wanigam Bala worth Rs. 32.92 lacs, Single Storey Concrete House along with 05 Marlas of land at Bathindi Jammu amounting to Rs. 32 lacs, Investments of Rs 1.50 Crore in joint purchase of huge chunk of land measuring 107 Kanals at Mouza Nehalpora Poshwani, Tehsil Pattan, total value Rs. 7.30 Crore in year 2018, Investments of Rs 64.01 lacs in joint purchase of huge chunk of land measuring 30 Kanals at Bhat Colony Hartrath Singhpora, District Baramulla total value Rs. 7.50 Crore in the year 2019, Land measuring 04 Kanals 05 Maralas situated on Wanigam-Tilgam road at Behrampora Kongamdara Pattan purchased for an amount of Rs. 13.81 lacs year 2011, Land measuring 20 Marlas at Bandibala Tehsil Kreeri purchased against an amount of Rs. 08 lacs jointly in year 2015, Land measuring 30 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchased jointly for an amount of Rs. 40.65 lacs in year 2016.
Land measuring 17 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchase for amount of Rs. 25.37 lacs year 2017.
Land measuring 33 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchased for an amount of Rs. 49.25 lacs in the year 2017.
Expenditures of Rs 111.46 lac include payments of Rs 44.25 & 10 lac to two different persons.
Purchase of gold ornaments of Rs 24.10 lacs from Kadla Jewelers Srinagar jointly with others.
The probe conducted further reveal that in addition to above the suspect has following immovable /movable properties/investments to have been acquired & possessed by the suspect which surfaced during the probe & are subject matter of further investigations; –
House at Umerabad Srinagar, Land measuring 13 marlas at Drang Tangmargh Baramulla, Land measuring 1 kanal & 2 marlas at shikargah, Land measuring 4 kanals at wannigam bala pattan Baramulla, Land measuring 12 marlas at HMT Srinagar, Life insurance policy 1.18 lacs, PPF 5.50 lacs, Two-wheeler scooty and furniture items, carpet, fridge, washing machine, samsung phone ,AC & other articles.
The probe conducted further revealed that the suspect has accumulated huge assets without seeking proper permission from prescribed competent authority as mandated under law by indulging in corrupt practices accordingly provisions of section 12/14 of J&K Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets & other Provisions) Act 1983 have been invoked against accused. Beside this it also surfaced that some of assets/ investments are found to be purchased/made jointly by suspect in connivance with other officers/officials, who thereby actively facilitated/ abetted the suspect in accumulation of the huge disproportionate assets, have been booked under section 109 RPC for abetment. The verification conducted also reveal that the expenditure incurred, and the value of assets acquired by the suspect have been found to be excessively disproportionate to the income earned by him from all known sources during the service period for which during the probe the suspect could not satisfactorily account for the pecuniary resources and property found disproportionate to his known sources of income. Accordingly on culmination of the probe instant case FIR No 11-2024 under section 5(1) (e) r/w 5 (2) of J&K P.C Act Svt. 2006, and section 12/14 of J&K Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets & other Provisions) Act 1983 was registered against accused Mohd Shafi Rather S/o Mohd Sultan Rather R/o Wanigam Bala Tehsil Pattan District Baramulla and other officers/officials were booked under section 109 RPC at PS ACB Baramulla & investigations were set into motion. Immediately after registration of case search warrants were obtained from the hon’ble anti-corruption court Baramulla & in pursuance to which searches were conducted simultaneously at 8 different locations situated at pattan, Baramulla & Bhatindi jammu in presence of executive magistrates & independent witnesses during which various incriminating documents pertaining to possession of Vehicle swift dezire ,documents pertaining to admission of his son Aqib shafi in university Ain shama Egypt, documents pertaining to purchase of laptop, plot design prepared by architect ,documents pertaining to land at Bandipora measuring 1 kanal ½ marlas some vouchers, documents pertaining to Met life policies etc were recovered & seized as per law. Further investigations are going on.
