Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 9: Tightening noose around the corrupt officers, Government has accorded sanction to prosecute ‘crorepati’ Tehsildar and his wife, who is an employee of the School Education Department, in the disproportionate assets case.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that accused officer Mohd Bashir was Tehsildar, Jammu in the year 2010 and his wife Hameeda Begum was teacher in the Government Higher Secondary School Paloura when a complaint was lodged with the State Vigilance Organization mentioning that Mohd Bashir has amassed huge moveable and immoveable assets disproportionate to his known source of income by indulging in corrupt practices.
Acting on the complaint, the Vigilance Organization registered a case and started enquiry to ascertain the income of the accused Tehsildar. During the course of investigation, the allegations leveled in the complaint were found tenable and accused officer was found in the possession of assets disproportionate to his known source of income, sources informed.
“During probe, the accused officer was found possessing Rs 1.35 crore worth immoveable and movable assets disproportionate to his known source of income”, sources said, adding “he was also found having benami assets including three-storey house in Hamhama, Srinagar”.
It also transpired that Hameeda Begum, who was then posted as teacher in Government Higher Secondary School, Paloura, was also aiding and abetting the accused officer as such she also came under the purview of the Vigilance investigation.
After completion of investigation, Vigilance Organization registered a case under Section 109, 120-B RPC, 5(1)(e) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 12/14 Sections of Declaration of Assets Act and Benami Transactions Act against the then Tehsildar and his wife Hameeda Begum.
Following registration of FIR by the Vigilance Organization, the accused Tehsildar was placed under suspension by the Government and was attached with Revenue Department. He is still under suspension.
As defined under the Civil Services Rules, the State Vigilance Organization then wrote to the Government seeking sanction to prosecute the then Tehsildar Jammu and his wife as both were in active Government services when booked by the Vigilance under different sections of the law.
“The contents of Vigilance case were examined in detail in the General Administration Department and finally the case was found well within the parameters defined under the rules for according prosecution sanction”, sources said, adding “now, the General Administration Department has accorded sanction to the Vigilance Organization to prosecute the then Tehsildar Jammu and his wife so that disproportionate assets case is taken to its logical conclusion”.
In response to a question, sources said that Government has decided to promptly clear the cases forwarded by the State Vigilance Organization seeking sanction to prosecute ‘corrupt’ officers. “The number of cases awaiting prosecution sanction has come down considerably during the past some months and such cases would be cleared with the same vigor in the future also”.
Responding to another question, sources said, “this is one of its kind case where even wife of a corrupt Government servant has been booked on the charges of aiding and abetting indulgence in corrupt practices”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel