Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 8 : The Government today attached three Motor Vehicle Inspectors of Motor Vehicles Department of Kashmir in the office of Regional Transport Officer, Jammu with immediate effect, as they were involved in the issuance of driving licenses and fitness certificates by accepting bribes.
Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Transport Department, Hirdesh Kumar in an order issued today attached Asif Amin Chalkoo, working in the office of ARTO, Anantnag, Manzoor Ahmad Qurashi, also working in the office of ARTO, Anantnag and Hakeem Shahid Mehboob, working in the office of ARTO, Ganderbal.
They were attached as Anti-Corruption Bureau, Anantnag has last year registered a case (FIR No. 04/2021) in the Police Station Anti-Corruption Bureau, Anantnag under Section 7 of the PC Act, 1988 and Section 120-B IPC last year.
The case was registered against the officers and officials of the ARTO Anantnag for taking bribes and allowing touts to prepare driving licenses.
There were allegations that many touts and agents were operating in ARTO Office, Anantnag in league with the officials for preparation of registration and fitness certificates for heavy commercial vehicles, and issuing driving licenses in lieu of bribe.
The ACB found on a trial day that most of application forms for issuance of driving licenses were having pencil written codes found to be abbreviations of names of some touts and agents operating in league with the board members of ARTO office, Anantnag, who actively influence the working of ARTO office Anantnag.
The applicants told the ACB that they had paid a bribe for issuance of driving licenses through the agents and touts for board members of ARTO office Anantnag.
The ACB also found that the ARTO office was conducting both driving test trials and fitness test of vehicle in a hasty manner just to accommodate the applicants recommended by the touts and agents.
The ACB also found evidence wherein candidate application numbers along with the name of touts had been forwarded to the officials for issuance of certificates and licenses.
The ACB also conducted raids at the houses of these officials and seized incriminating material.
The houses and shops of touts and agents Khalid Hakim at Qazibagh, Anantnag, Mubarak Bhat at Laisoo Gudder Kulgam, Zahoor Ahmad at Sarnal Anantnag, Aijaz Wagey at Khanabal Anantnag, Nadeem Ahmad alias Nadeem Photostat at Anantnag, Farooq Mir of Nazrana Photosat near DC Office Anantnag were searched during raids conducted and incriminating documents were seized.
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