Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 15: In a significant order, the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption), Jammu O P Bhagat today directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to submit the latest status of the complaint dated October 10, 2022 lodged by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed originally to Director CBI seeking registration of FIR into Rs.500-700 crores scam in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Scheme in the Union Territory of J&K which later came to be transferred to the Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, J&K.
After hearing Advocate S S Ahmed in-person, the Additional Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption) observed, “this application has been received in this court having been transferred by Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu”, adding “keeping in view the contents of the application, the application is allowed and ACB Jammu is directed to file the status report by or before the next date of hearing—September 26, 2023”.
In the application, it has been submitted that after getting RTI information from the State Health Agency (SHA) and Health and Medical Education Department of the Government of J&K, it has been prima facie established that a scam of Rs.500-700 crore in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Scheme in J&K has been committed, as such, the complainant lodged a comprehensive complaint dated October 10, 2022 to the Director, CBI seeking registration of FIR.
However, CBI did nothing in the matter and it was on February 7, 2023 the complainant filed an application before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption (CBI Cases), Jammu wherein the complainant sought directions to the CBI to submit the status of the complaint dated October 10, 2022.
Pursuant to the directions passed by the Special Judge Anti-Corruption (CBI Cases), Jammu, the CBI filed a status report wherein it was divulged that the complaint dated October 10, 2022 has been forwarded by the CBI to the Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), J&K vide its letter dated April 19, 2023.
“Almost five months have elapsed since the entrustment of the scam to the ACB by CBI Headquarters and the ACB is sitting over the matter and has not disclosed the final outcome of the matter till date”, Advocate Ahmed submitted, adding “ACB is under a legal obligation to share the outcome of the inquiry with the complainant within seven days as mandated by the Supreme Court of India in case titled Lalita Kumari V/s Govt. of UP & Others wherein the Supreme Court has directed that the applicant/complainant must be informed about the outcome of the preliminary inquiry within seven days”.
After considering the submissions of Advocate Ahmed, the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption), Jammu directed Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB to submit the latest status of the complaint dated October 10, 2022.
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