Misappropriation of funds: ACB booked ex-BDO Mendhar/RDD officials, & beneficiaries

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD 

RAJOURI JUNE 07:–Ex-BDO Mendhar, Aftab Ahmed, officials of Rural Development Department of Block Mendhar and beneficiaries (job card holders) have been booked by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for misappropriation of funds on account of unexecuted works by umaking false voucher/records etc.
In this connection a case has been registered at ACB Police Station at Rajouri under section 5(1) (c) (d) r/w section 5(2) J&K PC Act, Svt. 2006 and section 120-B RPC (FIR No.3/2024) against Aftab Ahmed, the then BDO & others.
The case was registered after the outcome of a joint surprise check conducted pursuant to a written complaint against BDO Mendhar & others of Panchayat Halqua Galhut. Kangra Block Mendhar alleging inter-allia misappropriation of funds on account of unexecuted works by making false voucher/records etc.
The probe revealed works executed under MGNREGA by RDD (during 2018-19) in Panchayat Halqua Galhuta Kangra officers /officials of RDD Block Mendhar by abuse of their official position and in furtherance of a well-knit conspiracy hatched amongst themselves and the beneficiaries released excess labour payment to the tune of ₹5,036 & ₹1,11,005 respectively in respect of the works i.e. (a) “Construction of P/work, R/wall, C/wall at Mohalla Shabab” & (b) “Construction of Tile work near H/O Irfan Ali Ward No. 10”.
It was also revealed that the said officials of BDO Block Mendhar have also released payment amounting to ₹67,704 for the non-existent/unexecuted work namely construction of tile work at W. No. 2.
The probe conducted has revealed that these payments were released by ex-BDO without submission of muster sheets/attendance register by the field officials.
By acting in this manner, the officers/officials of RDD Block Mendhar have misappropriated ₹1,83,745/- (₹1,16,041 as excess payment and ₹67,704/- for the non-existent works) thus conferred undue benefit upon themselves and the beneficiaries with corresponding wrongful loss to the state exchequer.
These omissions and commissions on the part of officers/officials of RDD Block Mendhar namely Aftab Ahmed, then BDO Mendhar and other officials of Rural Development Department, Block Mendhar in connivance with the beneficiaries (job card holders) prima facie constitutes offences punishable u/s 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act, 2006 & section 120-B RPC.
Further investigation is going on in this case.