KL Desk
JAMMU
The state government complying the High court’s directions have accorded sanction to prosecute around 44 officials including former Director Rural Development Department (RDD) Syed Asgar Ali (presently Member Legislative Council) in the infamous Panchayat Ghar Electrification Scam of 2005.
“The approval for prosecution sanction was given by the General Administration Department yesterday and the same would be conveyed to the State Vigilance Organization on next working day in the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar”, sources confirmed.
The development took place when after analyzing the FIR No.18 and 19 registered by Vigilance Organization, Kashmir in 2005 against around 44 officers and officials of the Rural development Department and Manager of Vijaya Bank for alleged misappropriation of funds in electrification of Panchayat Ghars in Anantnag and Baramulla districts, the General Administration Department found both the cases fit for according sanction to prosecute those involved in the scam.
The other tainted Government servants include Assistant Development Commissioners, Block Development Officers and Treasury officials.
The scam surfaced when it was revealed that small amounts ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 had been actually spent on each Panchayat Ghar but bills were claimed of around Rs 1 lakh for each unit.
“In the scam the officers and officials of Rural Development Department as well as Treasury Officials and the then Manager of Vijaya Bank played equal role in conferring undue benefit upon themselves and causing consequent loss to the State exchequer”, sources informed.
Pertinent to mention that suo-moto cognizance of the scam was first taken by the then Chairman of State Accountability Commission, Justice (retd) R P Sethi, who held the then Minister for Rural Development, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed (presently Minister for Public Enterprises) guilty of irregularities.
However, the then Rural Development Minister got the SAC’s proceedings against him stayed by obtaining order from the State High Court.
