Jammu and Kashmir: ACB Registers case against RDD officials over fund irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) announced on Friday said that it has registered a case against former Block Development Officer (BDO) Mendhar and other officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD), along with beneficiaries, for alleged misappropriation of funds

“The ACB JK registered a case under FIR number 03/2024 at PS ACB Rajouri under Sections 5(1)(c)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K PC Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B RPC against Aftab Ahmed, the then BDO Mendhar, other RDD officials of Block Mendhar, and beneficiaries (Job Card Holders),” reads a statement.

The case was initiated following a Joint Surprise Check conducted based on a written complaint against the Block Development Officer Mendhar and others from Panchayat Halqa Galhuta Kangra, Block Mendhar, District Poonch. The complaint alleged misappropriation of funds for unexecuted works by creating false vouchers and records.

“An investigation into works executed under MGNREGA by the RDD for the financial years 2018-19 in Panchayat Halqa Galhuta Kangra, Block Mendhar, District Poonch revealed that RDD officials, by abusing their official positions and conspiring with beneficiaries, released excess labour payments amounting to Rs 5,036 and Rs 1,11,005 respectively for the works “Construction of P/work, R/wall, C/wall at Mohalla Shabab” and “Construction of Tile work near H/O Irfan Ali Ward No. 10.”

Further enquiries revealed that the officials also released payments amounting to Rs 67,704 for non-existent work, specifically “Construction of tile work at W. No. 2.” These payments were released by the then BDO without the submission of muster sheets or attendance registers by field officials.

It reads, “In this manner, the RDD Block Mendhar officials misappropriated Rs 1,83,745 (Rs 1,16,041 as excess payment and Rs 67,704 for non-existent works), thereby conferring undue benefits upon themselves and the beneficiaries, leading to a corresponding wrongful loss to the state exchequer. These actions by Aftab Ahmed, the then BDO Mendhar, and other RDD officials, in connivance with the beneficiaries, prima facie constitute offences punishable under Sections 5(1)(c)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K PC Act, 2006, and Section 120-B RPC.”

The statement noted that further investigation in the case is ongoing. —(KNO)