SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has dropped disciplinary proceedings against retired Junior Engineer Ravi Kant Khajuria in connection with an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case concerning alleged irregularities in flood protection works along the Chenab in Reasi.
The decision follows the closure of FIR No. 04/2020 registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur, with the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Udhampur, accepting the closure report after the investigation was concluded as “Not-Proved”.
The Jal Shakti Department, also decided that no further departmental action was warranted against retired Executive Engineer Bansi Lal Bhardwaj and retired Assistant Executive Engineer Virender Kumar Khajuria, who were also named in the FIR.
The ACB investigation had examined allegations concerning 21 flood protection works carried out on both sides of the Chenab during 2010-11 to 2014-15. Of 14 works randomly checked, six works on the left bank of the river at Chumbla were initially reported to have caused a loss of Rs 10.87 lakh to the State exchequer.
The probe had also alleged that two works were shown as having been executed departmentally despite a contractor having already undertaken the work after its allotment. It further alleged discrepancies between measurements recorded in the measurement book and those found during spot inspection in four other works.
Khajuria was served with articles of charge and a statement of imputations on September 30, 2024. In his defence, he denied the allegations and said the works had been executed urgently for flood mitigation on the directions of superior officers. He also stated that he had not been involved in the tendering process or the decision to execute the works departmentally.
According to the department’s order, the ACB informed the Jal Shakti Department on March 26, 2025, that its investigation had concluded the case as “Not-Proved” and that a final report was being submitted before the court.
The Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Udhampur, subsequently accepted the closure report through an order dated July 14, 2025. The court recorded that the works were found existing at the site and that there was no loss to the State exchequer or duplication of the works based on the information available from concerned authorities and statements of local residents.
The court, however, observed that the then Executive Engineer, Bansi Lal Bhardwaj, should have re-tendered the work instead of having it executed departmentally and termed this a procedural lapse. Since Bhardwaj had retired in 2019, the court noted that recommending regular departmental action against him at that stage would serve no purpose.
The Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu, subsequently recommended dropping the departmental proceedings against Khajuria, stating that there was neither loss to the State exchequer nor duplication of works and that the works had been carried out on an urgent basis for flood mitigation under the directions of the then Executive Engineer.
The ACB reiterated on November 3, 2025, that the investigation had concluded as “Not-Proved” and that the final report had been accepted by the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Udhampur.
Following consideration by the competent authority, the Government ordered that the disciplinary proceedings against Khajuria be dropped and that no further departmental action be taken against Bhardwaj and Virender Kumar Khajuria. The matter arising from FIR No. 04/2020 was ordered to be treated as closed at the departmental level.
