Fraudulent, manipulated auction case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 5: In the much publicized fraudulent and manipulated auction of Anand Bricks and Jammu Ceramics, Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu Yash Paul Bourney has passed order for framing of charges against former IAS officer and several others under J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and various provisions of RPC.
These persons are the then Managing Director of J&K State Financial Corporation Ejaz Iqbal, the then Chief Minister SFC Rajinder Prasad, the then Manager Industries SFC Ravinder Mishra, the then Assistant Manager SFC Bhola Nath Sharma and private persons Rakesh Kumar Choudhary, Amit Kumar Gupta and Ravi Gautam.
“All the factors relating to fraudulent and manipulated auction of Anand Bricks and Jammu Ceramics when together taken up together are sufficient to lead this court to a prima facie conclusion that accused officials and beneficiaries had acted in furtherance to a well knit criminal conspiracy with prior understanding to dispose off/grab the mortaged properties for peanuts for their mutual benefit on account of their close association as well as to the detriment of the owners as well as the Corporation”, Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court said in the judgment.
“There is sufficient material on record to disclose the commission of offences punishable under J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and provisions of RPC”, the judgment further reads.
The court, however, found no significant material on record against Sham Lal Gupta (Surveyor) and Ram Dayal, the then Patwari Halqa Kangrail.
After the case was registered in Police Station ACB on 19-05-2011, joint raids were conducted by the teams of ACB in the premises of large branch offices of SFC Jammu and Srinagar simultaneously on 20-05-2011 following the allegations of fraudulent and manipulated auction done in the year 2009 of M/s Anand Bricks Pvt. Ltd and M/s Jammu Ceramics Pvt. Ltd. belonging to late Rabinder Nath Anand located at Kangrail Mishriwala by Ejaz Iqbal and other accused.
According to the case filed by the Anti Corruption Bureau, the accused ex-IAS officer Ejaz Iqbal along with other officials of SFC and Revenue Department in criminal conspiracy with each other and with Rakesh Choudhary and Amit Gupta with full knowledge and dishonest intentions forged the papers for the change of title of land owned by late Rabinder Nath Anand from ‘Lease Hold Rights’ to ‘Absolute Ownership Rights’ over approximately 59 Kanals and 1 Marlas of land where upon superstructures of M/s Anand Bricks Pvt. Ltd and M/s Jammu Ceramics Pvt. Ltd. were raised, through a fraudulent and manipulated auction process thereby caused wrongful and huge loss to the extent of Rs 108 lakh approximately to J&K State Financial Corporation and loss of land and assets amounting into crores of rupees to the legal heirs of late Rabinder Nath Anand and corresponding gain to accused persons.
After investigation, a formal case FIR No. 07/2011 was registered at Police Station ACB against ex-IAS officer Ejaz Iqbal along with Rajinder Prasad, then Chief Manager large branch office SFC, Ravinder Mishra, then Manager Industries large branch office SFC, Bhola Nath Sharma, then Assistant Manager large branch office SFC and Rakesh Choudhary and Amit Gupta.
The Anti Corruption Bureau subsequently produced the challan.