Raids conducted across 5 distts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today conducted simultaneous raids in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir in multi-crore scam in implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Saubhagya’, which was meant for electrification of all uncovered rural areas.
Though there was no official word on the raids carried out by the ACB sleuths, reliable sources told the Excelsior that searches were conducted in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts of Kashmir and Jammu, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region at houses of the erstwhile Power Development Department (PDD) officers involved in implementation of Saubhagya Scheme of the Central Government.
They said raids were carried out after two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered at Srinagar and Jammu police stations of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in misappropriation of funds running into several crores in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme Saubhagya.
In Jammu region, houses of four officers were searched. They included Project Officer Manhar Gupta of Sainik Colony, Jammu, Superintending Engineer Umesh Parihar of Channi Himmat, Superintending Engineer Circle Doda Asgar Hussain of Kishtwar and Superintending Engineer Krishan Kumar of Jammu.
Houses of the then Power Development Department officers involved in the scam were also searches in Srinagar City, another locality of Srinagar district and Ganderbal, sources said.
Some documents pertaining to scam and investments of the officers have been recovered during the searches.
According to sources, the Central Government had released around Rs 900 crore for Jammu and Kashmir for electrification of all un-electrified villages in the erstwhile State under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Saubhagya.
Preliminary inquiries conducted by the ACB revealed misappropriation of several crores in implementation of the scam.
After preliminary enquiries, the Bureau registered FIRs in the case and conducted searches at residences of the officers. However, no arrests have been made so far. Further investigations in the case were on, sources said, adding the officers involved in misappropriation of funds will be called for questioning.
ED raids Safa Valley owners
The Enforcement Directorate Jammu today conducted raids at six residential and business office premises in Jammu city belonging to Rajesh Kumar Rathore, Mohd Ashraf and their subsidiary companies in connection with Safa Valley project.
Investigation was initiated by the Directorate of Enforcement Jammu under violations of provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 against Bal Krishan Rathore, Rajesh Kumar Rathore and others.
During search, it was found that investments in crypto currencies and foreign investments of more than Rs 2 crores were made by Mohd Ashraf, in Dubai. Documents revealed that Mohd Ashraf has also made investments in the immovable properties.
Investigation revealed that Bal Krishan Rathore, an NRI had purchased agricultural land and constructed a multi-storey residential project in the name of Safa Valley, situated at upper Bhatindi, Jammu through a company named as Boundaries Builders Pvt. Limited and investments of huge amounts were effected from Dubai for Safa Valley project in the form of unsecured loans.
From reliable sources, huge amounts of seizure are in the form of Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) of more than Rs 25 crores which were in the name of company and individuals. During search, soverign gold bonds were also seized. The sale deeds registration papers of immovable properties were also seized during raids which pointed out that huge amounts of investments were made by them in the purchases.
From reliable sources, these seized FDRs/immovable proeprties and others will be investigated during the course of questioning of the persons whose houses were raided by ED.
During the search, officers from different Enforcement Directorate offices from Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Srinagar participated and services of banks officers was also taken besides assistance from local police for security purpose.
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