Srinagar, Aug 10: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday presented a charge-sheet against 10 accused, including nine public servants and a private contractor, in a case involving alleged misappropriation of government store material, fraudulent release of security deposit, forgery and abuse of official position in connection with the construction of the Lastiyal-Kalaroose bridge in Kupwara.
The accused include former Executive Engineers Muhammad Sultan Sheikh and Ajit Singh Chopra, besides other officials of the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department, Kupwara division, and contractor Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone.
According to the ACB, the case originated from an open verification conducted by the erstwhile Vigilance Organisation Kashmir into allegations of loss to the state exchequer allegedly caused by the contractor in connivance with officials of the PWD (R&B) Division, Kupwara.
The investigation found that the bridge work was allotted to Lone in September 2010 with a stipulated completion period of three months.
The contractor allegedly commenced the work after considerable delay, completed only part of the project and subsequently abandoned it.
The ACB said government store material, including cement and steel, remained unaccounted for or unrecovered. The value of the material was assessed at around Rs 5.63 lakh.
The investigation also found that the contractor’s cash deposit receipt (CDR) of Rs 73,000 was allegedly released and encashed fraudulently on the basis of a forged communication purportedly issued by the competent departmental authority.
In addition, bill deposits amounting to Rs 81,400 were allegedly released despite outstanding government liabilities, the ACB said.
According to the agency, lapses by engineering and accounts officials in safeguarding government material, enforcing contractual conditions and recovering government dues, allegedly in connivance with the contractor, resulted in a total loss of Rs 7,12,150 to the state exchequer.
The charge-sheet was filed after obtaining the requisite sanction for prosecution against the serving public servants.
The ACB said the case is supported by oral, documentary, scientific, and other evidence collected during the investigation.
The accused charge-sheeted are Abdul Majeed Malik, then Helper and Assistant Cashier; Ghulam Rasool Lone, then Cashier and Senior Assistant; Muhammad Sultan Sheikh, then Executive Engineer; Ajit Singh Chopra, then Executive Engineer; Nazir Ahmad Shah, then Assistant Executive Engineer; Abdul Rashid Dar, then Assistant Executive Engineer; Manzoor Ahmad Sumji, then Junior Engineer; Ghulam Qadir Bhat, then Assistant Accounts Officer; Abdul Hamid Dar, then Assistant Accounts Officer; and contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone.
All 10 accused were produced before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, on Monday along with the chargesheet.
The court granted them bail upon furnishing bail and surety bonds as directed.
The court has fixed November 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
The charges are allegations at this stage, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
About The Author
