Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) and Crime Branch (CB) have registered FIRs against 304 officers and officials of different departments in corruption cases for the past around one decade and majority of the cases are under investigation even after 8 years.
The information given by the Government in the Legislative Assembly to a question asked by Communist Party of India (M) MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, today revealed that 34 officers and officials were awarded punishment by courts while directions were issued for re-investigations of some cases. The courts awarded punishments in 31 cases of SVO and 3 cases of CB since 1993.
Tarigami had demanded details of corruption cases pending against various officers and officials, including those who had now retired with SVO and CB.
The CB, Jammu, has registered FIRs against 81 while 34 were Kashmir valley officers and officials. The CB has prepared challan in five cases but it awaits sanction from the Government.
The officers and officials were involved in misappropriation of Government funds by misusing their positions, illegal appointments, gratification, manipulation of records and purchasing medicines worth crores of rupees on exorbitant rates.
The written reply by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said 95 cases were registered by SVO against hundreds of officers and officials in Jammu region. Barring five all cases are still under investigation though some of them have been registered in 2006. “94 FIRs have been registered by SVO in the Kashmir division”, the reply said.
The reply said that some of the latest FIRs registered by the SVO include one against Dr Saleemul Rehman, Director Health Services Kashmir and other officials of the department in purchase of sub-standard drugs and medicines worth crores of rupees on exorbitant rates during 2010-2011.
An FIR against Dr Reyaz Farooq, Principal Dental College Srinagar and others for purchase of dental equipment at highly exhorbitant rates in criminal conspiracy with a company causing losses to the State exchequer.
Three separate FIRs against Abdul Rashid Shah as Incharge Executive Officer, Hajin, Banidpora and Sumbal in district Bandipora for illegal appointments.
An FIR has been lodged against Ahmadullah Owaisey, then CEO Budgam for allowing in fake and fabricated appointment case.
An FIR has been registered against Abdul Qayoom Khan, then MS SFC and others for engagement and appointment of 12 persons including his relatives.
There are some cases where the Courts have ordered reinvestigation of the cases. An FIR was registered against two Tehsildars of Jammu Romesh Misri and Ravinder Kapoor in 2006 for allegedly facilitating alienation of land, falling in the co-ownership of complainant and beneficiary private persons.
However, the SVO in its report closed the case as not proved. However, a court disagreed with the findings of the SVO and ordered for reinvestigation.
In another case registered against Mohammad Rashid, the then Tehsildar Jammu, the court has directed reinvestigation.
A court has directed SVO for reinvestigation in a case filed in 2000 against Ajaz Rasool, then Executive Engineer Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), accused to have misappropriated funds while executing works relating to Nallah Amir Khan.
Initially the case was culminated for departmental action but the court disagreed with the finding of SVO and ordered for further investigation.
The reply said the court has stayed investigation in a case filed against Dr Ghulam Mohiuddin, then Executive Director/Secretary State Social Welfare Board, Jaffar Hussain Manager Central Marketing Society, Kupwara and Abdul Hamid Khan Manager Cooperative Bank, Kupwara.
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