ACB chargesheets 39 persons for misappropriation of ration
Srinagar: Anti-Corruption Bureau Thursday said it has produced a chargesheet against 39 accused persons including government officials in a case pertaining to misappropriating government ration.
Those charge-sheeted include Ashok Kumar Pandita, the then Assistant Director Mills Jammu, and other public servants — the then Assistant Directors, then Tehsil Supply Officers, Supervisors, Storekeepers, ration dealers of FCS&CA Jammu, and private flour mill owners.
Giving details of the case, ACB said the accused had under (BPL) Below Poverty Line, (AAY) Antodya Anna Yojna and (APS) Annapurna schemes drawn excess ration in Tehsil Jammu Rural through fraudulent means, which was then sold in the open market.
The entire quantity of food-grains drawn in excess of the actual requirements under said schemes had fraudulently and dishonestly been shown issued to ration dealers who were either non-existent or had denied having received any ration in excess of the actual requirements under said schemes during the year 2004-05.
Through this fraud the charge-sheeted public servants conferred undue benefit upon themselves to the tune of Rs 6, 08,91,039 from November 2004 to March 2005.
The ACB said Gopal Dass Sharma (the then A.D. Trade and Stores CAPD Jammu), and K.K Gandotra (the then Tehsil Supply Officer CAPD Jammu) and others had also drawn excess quantity of 601 qtls. of rice on account of ration meant for distribution free of cost among the rationees categorized under Annapurna scheme and fraudulently shown issued to various non-existent ration dealers and misappropriated Rs 5, 40,900 as cost of rice.
The above named public servants in this manner while abusing their official position in league with each other had conferred upon themselves undue pecuniary advantage of Rs 6,14,31,939 thereby causing corresponding loss to the State exchequer.
During the course of investigation, it has been established that the accused public servants have by abuse of their official position and in furtherance of criminal conspiracy with private beneficiaries –Mill Owners — have caused loss to the tune of Rs 6,36,39,077 to the State exchequer for their pecuniary benefits.
After completion of investigation, and after obtaining necessary prosecution sanction against accused in service public servants, a charge-sheet for commission of offences under section 5 (1) (d) r/w section 5 (2) PC Act, 2006 BK and Section 467, 468, 471 and 120-B RPC against total 39 accused persons was presented before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu for judicial determination today, the ACB said.
