Corruption plagues Srinagar Smart City Project

Srinagar, Jan 10: A massive corruption scandal has engulfed the much-hyped Srinagar Smart City Project, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) launching a full-scale investigation into allegations of illicit wealth amassed by top officials of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) and registered cases against two senior officials besides carrying out raids at multiple places.

The ACB action comes at a time when the city continues to grapple with delayed and substandard execution of key infrastructure projects under the Smart City initiative.

The cases were registered after the ACB conducted a secret verification into the allegation against Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sajid Yousuf Bhat and Executive Engineer Zahoor Ahmad Dar.

Bhat has been booked under section 13(1) (b) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of lawful income.

Accordingly, case FIR No 01/2025 has been registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar.

Dar has been found involved under the commission of offence under Section 13(1)(b) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possession of assets which are prima-facie disproportionate to his known sources of lawful income.

Accordingly, case FIR N0 02/2025 has been registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), ACB, Waheed Ahmad Shah said that the bureau had acted on numerous complaints against two senior SSCL officers.

Dar and Bhat have been accused of exploiting their official positions to accumulate disproportionate assets, leading lives of luxury far beyond their legitimate earnings.

SSP ACB Shah said that investigations had substantiated the allegations, resulting in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against the two officers.

“Following this, the ACB conducted search operations at multiple properties linked to the accused, uncovering a trail of financial irregularities,” he said. “Bhat was found to own a commercial property in Ram Bagh, Srinagar. The records show that the property was deliberately undervalued in official documents to conceal its true market worth. Investigators also uncovered several bank accounts in his name, with suspicious transactions suspected to be linked to corrupt practices.”

Shah said Dar was discovered to own a sprawling multi-storey residence in Ghalibabad, Shalteng, and a luxury sedan.

The ACB suspects both Dar and his spouse of engaging in dubious financial activities, with multiple suspicious transactions flagged in their bank accounts.

Investigators also discovered Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) believed to have been acquired through illegal means.

The corruption scandal casts a shadow over the much-publicised Srinagar Smart City Project, which has been criticised for delays, cost overruns, and inconsistent execution.

The project, launched under the Government of India’s Smart Cities Mission, was intended to transform Srinagar into a modern urban hub by upgrading infrastructure, improving public services, and implementing digital technologies.

However, persistent complaints about poor quality of work, missed deadlines, and lack of transparency have raised questions about the project’s integrity.

The ACB has assured the public that the investigation will not spare anyone found complicit in wrongdoing.

“Investigations are ongoing at seven locations tied to the accused officers, with a focus on tracing the extent of financial impropriety,” he said. “The officers in question used their positions within the Smart City Project to enrich themselves at the expense of public welfare. We are determined to hold them accountable.”

While the ACB has yet to confirm the involvement of other officials, investigators are scrutinising additional evidence, including financial records and property documents.