Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against five officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department and nine Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement and misappropriation of government foodgrains worth ₹5.57 crore in Karnah area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
According to the ACB, FIR No. 02/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after obtaining prior approval from the General Administration Department (GAD).
The case originated from a communication by the Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir, seeking criminal action after departmental inspections and physical verification detected large-scale shortages of government foodgrains.
An initial joint surprise inspection at government sale centres and Fair Price Shops found a shortage of 4,175.89 quintals of rice at the Lountha Granary in Karnah. Subsequent verification by a departmental sub-committee and the ACB uncovered further shortages at sale centres and Fair Price Shops operating under the Tangdhar, Karnah-A and Karnah-B circles.
The ACB said the alleged misappropriation caused a loss of ₹5,57,18,657.25 to the government exchequer. Investigators alleged that the accused, acting in a criminal conspiracy, dishonestly misappropriated government foodgrains entrusted to them by abusing their official positions for unlawful pecuniary gain.
Among those named in the FIR are Umar Bashir alias Raja Umer, then Assistant Storekeeper, and Ashiq Hussain Mir, then Assistant Storekeeper, along with 12 other accused, including public servants and Fair Price Shop dealers.
Following registration of the case, the ACB launched searches at multiple locations and initiated further legal proceedings. Investigation into the case is continuing.
The ACB reiterated its commitment to combating corruption and appealed to the public to report corruption-related information through its helpline or official email.
