Srinagar, April 22: An anti-corruption court Monday convicted Shah Latief, a former Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, in a corruption case, and sentenced him to one year imprisonment besides monetary penalty for embezzling public money.
The Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, R.N. Wattal convicted Shah Latief, the former Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, under section 5(1)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 409 of Ranbir Penal Code dealing with criminal breach of trust by a public servant.
The court after satisfying with the evidence produced during the trial and the arguments put forth by the prosecutors, sentenced the accused Shah Latief for “one year imprisonment and fine of Rs. 2 lakhs”.
In case of default in payment of fine, Shah shall have to further undergo six months imprisonment, read the judgment.
The former DC was convicted according to the first information report (FIR) by Vigilance Organization Kashmir in case number 18/2004 PS ACBK titled State vs. Shah Latief.
The accused, according to the FIR and the subsequent chargesheet, had embezzled public money amounting to Rs 1,78,702.
Gulam Jeelani and Riaz Ahmad pleaded the case on behalf of the state in the court.
The VOK had in 2015 produced chargesheet against the former Deputy Commissioner in the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption for drawing and misappropriating Rs 1,78,702, meant for repairs of the official vehicles, during the 1997 elections.
An investigation conducted into the case proved that no money had been actually spent for repairing the vehicles during the elections.
Apart from this 15-year-old FIR, the VOK has also produced a chargesheet in the court against Shah accusing him of “fraudulently” withdrawing ex-gratia relief against the damage to the property of Kashmiri Pandit migrants.
The matter is also pending adjudication in the court.
The accused according to the anti-corruption body of the state had entered into a criminal conspiracy for pecuniary benefits worth crores of rupees.
The officer had prepared “fake and forged records” of damage to the immovable property of the migrants and fraudulently withdrawn and misappropriated more than Rs 1.18 crore during 1997-98 from the government treasury, said the charge-sheet.
Shah Latif was forcibly retired from service by the State government on 9th of December, 2003.
He challenged the government order retiring him prematurely at the age of 40. A division bench of the J&K High Court dismissed his petition and upheld the government order for his compulsory retirement.
