Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has presented a fourth chargesheet against Peerzada Abdul Rashid Shah, the then Executive Officer of Municipal Committees Sumbal, Hajin and Bandipora, along with three others before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Baramulla in a disproportionate assets case.
The case originated from a complaint filed by one Mohd Yousuf, a resident of Sumbal in Bandipora, alleging multiple instances of corruption, possession of disproportionate assets and illegal or fraudulent appointments in Municipal Committees Bandipora, Hajin and Sumbal by Abdul Rashid Shah and his nephew Javid Ahmad Shah.
Following the complaint, ACB conducted a secret verification which led to the registration of four separate cases against Abdul Rashid Shah, including three cases related to illegal and fraudulent appointments in the municipal committees of Sumbal, Hajin and Bandipora. Two cases were also registered against his nephew, Javid Ahmad Shah, the then junior assistant in the Municipal Committee Bandipora, relating to fraudulent mutation and a disproportionate assets case.
Officials said investigations in the three cases concerning illegal appointments have already been completed and chargesheets filed against the accused and others before the court.
During investigation of the disproportionate assets case registered as FIR No. 09/2013, the ACB found that Abdul Rashid Shah had allegedly accumulated assets and incurred expenditures during the check period that were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
According to the probe, the accused constructed a double-storey house and additional accommodation at Papchan in Bandipora on ancestral land and purchased several parcels of land at Papchan and other locations in Bandipora. Investigators also found that he purchased a double-storey house at Gazaliabad HMT in Srinagar and a triple-storey shopping complex in Bandipora.
The investigation further revealed the purchase of multiple land parcels at Sidhra Bypass in Jammu in the name of his wife, Afroza Bano. The accused was also found to have purchased an A-Star Maruti car during the check period.
During house searches, investigators reportedly recovered several expensive movable items, including electronic appliances, household equipment, computers, pashmina shawls and other valuables.
The probe also examined bank balances maintained by the accused in various accounts at J&K Bank Bandipora, J&K Grameen Bank branches at Bandipora and Nadihal, and Punjab National Bank Srinagar. Expenditures on gold ornaments, renovation of residential houses, education of children and other services were also taken into account during the investigation.
Following completion of the investigation, the chargesheet was filed against Abdul Rashid Shah under Section 5(1)(e) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, along with Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions) Act, 1983, read with Section 109 of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The co-accused named in the chargesheet include Afroza Bano, wife of Abdul Rashid Shah and resident of Papchan Bandipora; Saif-ud-Din Baba of Doniwari Kupwara; and Sameer Ahsan Shah of Ward No. 09, Papchan Bandipora. They have been booked under Section 109 of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for April 28, 2026.
