SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a formal case against Mohammad Jameel, a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) official formerly posted in the Office of the Collector Agrarian Reforms, Poonch, for embezzling nearly Rs 56 lakh from government accounts in connivance with unidentified bank officials.
According to a statement issued by the ACB, an FIR (No. 03/2025) under sections 7, 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and sections 120-B, 467, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, has been filed against Jameel, son of Jalal Din, a resident of village Chandak, Tehsil Haveli in Poonch.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by Tahir Mustafa Malik (JKAS), Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Poonch, alleging large-scale financial irregularities committed by Jameel during his tenure in the ACR office. Following this, the ACB initiated a verification process which confirmed the embezzlement of Rs 55,99,947 from three Current Deposit (CD) accounts of the Deputy Commissioner’s office maintained with J&K Bank, Poonch City branch.
An official probe was earlier conducted by a committee headed by Sandesh Kumar Sharma (JKAS), Additional District Development Commissioner, Poonch, following orders from the Deputy Commissioner through an official communiqué dated November 3, 2023. The inquiry established that between January 7, 2019, and October 21, 2023, Jameel fraudulently withdrew government funds by forging invoices, fabricating signatures of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (including the DC, ADC, ACR, and AO), or using his own signatures in violation of financial norms.
The investigation further revealed that Jameel not only diverted these funds to his own account but also transferred amounts to the bank accounts of his close relatives and other unidentified individuals. The ACB has also flagged the involvement of certain J&K Bank officials, who allegedly accepted fake invoices and honoured cheques bearing forged signatures that did not match the specimen signatures on record.
“This was a case of systematic abuse of official position by the accused in collusion with bank officials, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer and benefiting the accused and his accomplices,” the ACB stated.
Following the registration of the case, simultaneous searches were conducted at multiple locations linked to the accused in District Poonch with the assistance of local police and in the presence of magistrates and independent witnesses. Relevant documents and records have been seized and are now under detailed scrutiny.
The ACB said further investigation is underway to examine the full scope of the conspiracy and determine the extent of involvement of bank personnel and other associates.
