ACB uncovers bribery trail in J&K’s Mumkin scheme

Srinagar, Nov 9: The Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) uncovered a bribery trail in Jammu and Kashmir’s Mumkin scheme and registered an FIR against an employment official over Rs 4 lakh kickback.

A statement of ACB issued here said that it registered an FIR against Shabnam Arif Mir, the then Assistant Director Employment, for demanding and taking a bribe from Himalayan Motors Tengpora Bypass, Srinagar for recommending their vehicles under the Mumkin scheme.

The verification was conducted by the ACB to look into the allegations that the Assistant Director, Employment, in the capacity of Nodal Officer under the Mumkin scheme for Kupwara and Bandipora districts demanded and accepted a bribe from officials of Himalayan Motors Tengpora Bypass Srinagar for processing and recommending their vehicles under the scheme during the year 2021-2022.

The verification conducted has revealed that under the Mumkin scheme, the applications of eligible candidates were to be placed before District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) by the Nodal Officer after verifying the credentials of the applications as per the laid down norms, but the then Assistant Director Employment, being Nodal Officer of Bandipora and Kupwara districts demanded Rs 10,000 per vehicle as bribe and commission from officials of Himalayan Motors, Tengpora, Srinagar for recommending their vehicles.

The probe conducted also revealed that the officials of Himalayan Motors used to submit proforma bills of his dealer to her by paying fixed bribe money with the approval of General Manager Sumeer Pandita and Managing Director Junaid Bashir Beigh against preferential treatment to Himalayan Motors over other dealers.

The verification conducted has also revealed that the suspect official demanded and accepted a bribe to the tune of Rs 4 lakh from a sales consultant including Rs 1.39 lakh so received through e-transactions into the account numbers provided by her to officials of Himalayan Motors.

Accordingly, after the culmination of the probe, a case FIR No 15/2024 under Sections 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988  and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla against the accused official,  Sumeer Pandita, Junaid Bashir Beigh, and others.

Immediately after registration of the case, searches were conducted by various ACB teams at multiple locations in Bandipora, Kupwara, and Srinagar during which various incriminating documents were obtained and seized.