ACB produce charge-sheet in misappropriation case in education department

Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) produced charge-sheet against then Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) and others for misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 39 lakhs.

A spokesman of the ACB said Wednesday evening that charge-sheet was filed in the court o Anti Corruption, Baramulla against Asifa Ara, the then Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Education Zone Dangerpora, Sopore and other for misappropriation of funds to tune of Rs 39 lakh for construction School building at Yemberzalwari Bala.

The other accused included Bashir Ahmad Mir, the then In-charge ZEO, Mohammad Shafi Wani, the then In-charge ZEO, Mairaj-ud-din Ahmad Shawl, the then ZEO Planning Officer,  Zahoor Ahmad Shah, the then In-charge Headmaster Government Middle School Yemberzalwari Bala, Rifat Ara, the then Junior Assistant (SSA Clerk) ; Abdul Rashid Baba (Father of accused Rifat Ara) and Atiqa Rashid (Mother of accused Rifat Ara) for commission of offences under section 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K Prevention of Corruption Act. Samvat 2006; Section 409, 467, 468, 471, 120-B & 109 RPC.

He said the case was registered in ACB to investigate the allegations of misappropriation of Government money by the above mentioned officials of Education Zone Dangerpora Sopore.

The investigation revealed that the accused Zonal Education Officers during 2011 to 2014 had released funds to the tune of Rs 72, 21, 414 for construction of a three roomed school building at Yemberzalwari Bala of Education Zone Dangerpora Sopore against the estimated/allotted cost of Rs 9.99 Lac.

Most of the amount released through Cheques were changed into major amounts by way of insertions by the accused Junior Assistant. The investigation revealed that only amount of Rs 6.48 Lakh was consumed in the said construction. An amount of Rs 24, 49, 775 was recovered by the Education Department from the accused. It was also found out that amount of Rs1,61,740 which was deposited in the personal accounts of the accused In-charge Headmaster and the Parents of accused Junior Assistant by Anti Corruption Bureau was frozen.

The rest of the amount to the tune of Rs39, 61, 899 was established to have been transferred into the personal accounts and the accounts of relatives by the accused and later misappropriated.

The court has fixed September 18, 2021 as next date of hearing, he said.

UNI