Srinagar, June 24: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday filed a charge-sheet against seven individuals, including a former Block Development Officer (BDO), an Executive Engineer and other Rural Development Department officials, in connection with an alleged embezzlement of government funds meant for developmental works in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
According to the ACB, the charge-sheet was presented before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, in FIR No. 02/2020 registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla. The case relates to allegations of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery and misappropriation of public funds during the execution of development projects in the Lolab and Lalpora areas of Kupwara.
The investigation stemmed from complaints of large-scale irregularities in works executed through the Rural Development Department, including the construction of a Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I and a Fisheries Pond at Diver-B. A verification conducted by the then Vigilance Organisation Kashmir, now the ACB, reportedly found serious violations in the execution of these projects.
Investigators alleged that officials, in connivance with a beneficiary contractor, prepared false records, inflated measurements, billed for non-existent works and facilitated the release of payments despite deficient and substandard execution of projects. The probe also found that some works were carried out on forest land without obtaining mandatory permissions and that fictitious entries relating to tree felling were incorporated into official records to secure undue financial gains.
Those charge-sheeted include Mohd. Sultan Bhat, then BDO Sogam/Lalpora; Er. Surinder Kumar Sharma, then Executive Engineer, REW Division Kupwara; Mohd. Shafi Bukhari, then Assistant Executive Engineer; Taimur Ahmad Khan and Nisar Ahmad Khan, both Junior Engineers; Mohd. Saleem Dar, then Village Level Worker and Panchayat Secretary; and contractor Waseem Mehmood Khan.
Following the receipt of prosecution sanction from the competent authority, the ACB completed its investigation and filed the charge-sheet. All seven accused were produced before the court and admitted to bail after furnishing personal bonds. The court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code. The ACB said it remains committed to ensuring accountability in cases involving misuse of public funds and corruption in government departments.
