Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against Mohammad Shafi Rather, a Class IV employee in the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department in Baramulla for accumulating assets worth crores through corrupt practices.
The properties include multiple houses and plots of land situated in Baramulla, Srinagar and Jammu, which are significantly disproportionate to Rather’s known income.
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The ACB registered an FIR against him after verification was conducted by ACB into the allegation that Rather, a Class IV employee (Kandaman) amassed huge assets by indulging in corrupt practices which are disproportionate to his know source of income.
The verification revealed that the suspect initially worked as commission agent in fair price shop subsequently appointed as Kandaman in CAPD Baramulla and mostly worked in office of AD Food Baramulla, during which he in connivance with other officers/officials by indulging in corrupt practices came in possession of huge assets in the shape of immovable/ movable properties and has also made huge investments/expenditures.
The huge properties, expenditures and investments surfaced during verification included a double storey residential house (under construction) at Wanigam Bala, Pattan worth Rs. 40.34 lakhs, construction of double storied house at Wanigam Bala worth Rs. 32.92 lakhs, single storey concrete house along with 5 Marlas of land at Bathindi Jammu amounting to Rs. 32 lacs.
The accused has also made investments of Rs 1.50 Crore in joint purchase of huge chunk of land measuring 107 Kanals at Mouza Nehalpora Poshwani, Tehsil Pattan, total value Rs. 7.30 Crore in 2018, Rs 64.01 lacs in joint purchase of a huge chunk of land measuring 30 Kanals at Bhat Colony Hartrath Singhpora, District Baramulla total value Rs. 7.50 Crore in the year 2019, land measuring 4 Kanals 5 Maralas situated on Wanigam-Tilgam road at Behrampora Kongamdara Pattan purchased for an amount of Rs. 13.81 lacs year 2011, land measuring 20 Marlas at Bandibala Tehsil Kreeri purchased against an amount of Rs. 08 lacs jointly in year 2015, land measuring 30 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchased jointly for an amount of Rs. 40.65 lacs in year 2016, land measuring 17 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchase for amount of Rs. 25.37 lacs year 2017, land measuring 33 Marlas at Chowadi Jammu purchased for an amount of Rs. 49.25 lacs in the year 2017 and expenditures of Rs 111.46 lakhs include payments of Rs 44.25 and 10 lakhs to two different persons.
Rather had also purchased gold ornaments worth Rs 24.10 lacs from Kadla Jewelers Srinagar jointly with others. The probe conducted further revealed that in addition to this, the suspect has a house at Umerabad Srinagar, land measuring 13 marlas at Drang Tangmarg Baramulla, land measuring 1 kanal and 2 marlas at shikargah, land measuring 4 kanals at wannigam Bala Pattan Baramulla, land measuring 12 marlas at HMT Srinagar besides life insurance policy for Rs 1.18 lakhs, Public Provident Fund (PPF) 5.50 lakhs, a two-wheeler scooty, furniture items, carpets, fridge, washing machine, Samsung phone , AC and other articles.
The probe also revealed that the suspect has accumulated huge assets without seeking proper permission from prescribed competent authority as mandated under law by indulging in corrupt practices accordingly provisions of section 12/14 of J&K Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets & other Provisions) Act 1983 have been invoked against accused.
Beside this, it also surfaced that some of assets/ investments are found to be purchased/made jointly by the suspect in connivance with other officers/officials, who thereby actively facilitated/ abetted the suspect in the accumulation of the huge disproportionate assets, have been booked under Section 109 RPC for abetment.
“Accordingly on culmination of the probe instant case FIR No 11-2024 under section 5(1) (e) r/w 5 (2) of J&K P.C Act Svt. 2006, and section 12/14 of J&K Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets & other Provisions) Act 1983 was registered against accused Rather and other officers/officials were booked under section 109 RPC at PS ACB Baramulla and investigations were set into motion”.
Immediately after registration of case search warrants were obtained from the anti-corruption court Baramulla and in pursuance searches were conducted simultaneously at 8 different locations situated at Pattan, Baramulla, and Bhatindi Jammu in presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
During search operation, incriminating documents about possession of vehicle documents, admission of his son Aqib Shafi in university Ain Shama Egypt, purchase of laptop, plot design prepared by architect, documents about land at Bandipora measuring 1.025 kanals some vouchers and documents about Met life policies were recovered and seized as per law.
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