Srinagar, Mar 27 (KNS): The ACB has registered a case against ex president, former executive officer, then storekeeper of Municipal Committee Thanamandi and others for misappropriation of funds.
In a statement, issued to KNS, a spokesperson said that the ACB registered a case FIR no. 01/2024 against ex president Shakeel Ahmed Mir, former EO Mushtaq Ahmed, then storekeeper Riyaz Ahmed and other officers of Municipal Committee Thanamandi as well as against Proprietor of M/s Gouri Sales Agencies and others.
The statement reads that the case was registered on the outcome of verification conducted by ACB into the allegations that Municipal Committee Thanamandi invited tenders for installation of street lights in the limits of Municipal Committee worth lakhs of rupees, but the concerned executive officer, by abuse of his official position, connived with supplier firm and accepted supply of LED bulbs of very inferior quality instead of quoted brands.
"During the course of verification, it surfaced that President Municipal Committee Thanamandi invited tender notice for purchase of street lights having specific. As per record, 100 streetlights of 60 watt, make Mos-Lites, were received from M/S Gouri Sales Agencies in Municipal Committee Thanamandi instead of prescribed brands. The same was found entered in receipt register without mentioning of date of receipt as well as brand. Out of said 100 street lights, only 42 lights were identified by staff of Municipal Committee Thanamandi, whereas 58 lights could not be traced. These lights were also found purchased on exorbitant rates."
It added that the verification further revealed that Mushtaq Ahmed without initiation of any tendering process issued another supply order to said M/S Gouri Sales Agencies for purchase of 150 LED street lights of 45 watt, 150 LED bulbs of 40 watts etc. on the rates already approved by Municipal Committee Thanamandi for the year 2018-19.
"However, no such LED street lights & LED bulbs etc. so purchased through the said supply order, were found received in Municipal Committee Thanamandi. In this regard, no record has been found in respect of receipt/issuance of such lights and bulbs. But bills against such purchases stand endorsed by then storekeeper. It also surfaced that Shakeel Ahmed Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Riyaz Ahmed and other officers by abuse of their official positions and in lieu of criminal conspiracy hatched among themselves as well as Proprietor of M/S Gouri Sales Agencies (supplier firm), released full payment of amount against LED Street lights and LED bulbs purported to be purchased/supplied."
It further reads that by acting in this manner, the public servants and others misappropriated government money just to confer undue pecuniary benefits to them as well as supplier with corresponding loss to the exchequer on account of LED street lights purchased on exorbitant rates as well as loss on account of non-existent LED street lights and LED Bulbs which came upto ?5,96,870.
"The facts constitute commission of offences punishable under section 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 & section 120-B RPC against these officials as well as Proprietor of M/s Gouri Sales Agencies and others."
It added that ACB after registration of case under relevant sections of law, also conducted searches at residences of accused public servants in Rajouri, while further investigation in the case is going on. (KNS)