SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a charge-sheet against Mohd Farooq, a former junior assistant in the office of the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Manjakote, in a case involving alleged misappropriation of rice and cooking costs under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme.
The charge-sheet in FIR No. 26/2018 was filed before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Rajouri, on Monday. The next date of hearing has been fixed for September 29.
According to the ACB, the case was registered on December 28, 2018, following a verification into the alleged misappropriation of around 200 quintals of rice meant for the MDM scheme in Zone Manjakote during the fourth quarter of 2014-15.
The investigation allegedly found that then ZEO Manjakote Shah Nawaz Khan, who has since died, and Farooq, who was the dealing hand for MDM, prepared fake and forged indents and authority letters by manipulating official records, the ACB said.
The probe, after scrutiny of records and obtaining a forensic opinion, allegedly established the misappropriation of 256.40 quintals of rice valued at Rs 8,03,557.60. An additional Rs 4,61,578 meant as cooking costs was also allegedly misappropriated.
The total loss to the state exchequer was assessed at Rs 12,65,135.60, according to the ACB.
The case was registered under provisions of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code relating to criminal misconduct, forgery, use of forged documents, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.
As Khan died during the course of the proceedings, prosecution sanction was obtained for Farooq, who is currently an in-service public servant, the ACB said.
The charge-sheet has been filed against Farooq under Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and Sections 465, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code.
