Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday filed a chargesheet against 10 persons, including nine public servants and a contractor, in a case involving alleged embezzlement of government store material, fraudulent release of a security deposit and other irregularities related to the construction of a steel bridge at Lastiyal-Kalaroose in Kupwara district.
According to the ACB, the case originated from an open verification conducted by the erstwhile Vigilance Organisation Kashmir into allegations of loss to the state exchequer in connivance with officials of the PWD (R&B) Division, Kupwara.
The investigation found that the bridge work was allotted to contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone in September 2010 with a completion period of three months. However, the contractor allegedly started work after a delay, executed only part of the project and later abandoned it. Store material, including cement and steel worth about Rs 5.63 lakh, remained unaccounted for, the agency said.
The probe also revealed the alleged fraudulent release and encashment of a contractor’s CDR worth Rs 73,000 on the basis of a forged communication purportedly issued by the competent authority. Investigators further found that bill deposits amounting to Rs 81,400 were released despite outstanding government liabilities.
The ACB alleged that lapses by engineering and accounts officials in safeguarding government material, enforcing contractual conditions and ensuring recovery of dues resulted in a total loss of Rs 7.12 lakh to the state exchequer.
The accused named in the chargesheet include Abdul Majeed Malik, Ghulam Rasool Lone, retired executive engineers Mohammad Sultan Sheikh and Ajit Singh Chopra, retired assistant executive engineers Nazir Ahmad Shah and Abdul Rashid Dar, junior engineer Manzoor Ahmad Sumji, retired assistant accounts officer Gh. Qadir Bhat, assistant accounts officer Abdul Hamid Dar and contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone.
After securing the required prosecution sanctions, the ACB presented the chargesheet before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla. All 10 accused were produced before the court and admitted to bail after furnishing bail and surety bonds.
The court has fixed November 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
