SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against the former President, two officials of the Municipal Committee Thanamandi, and others for misappropriation of funds.
A spokesperson in a statement said, “ACB registered a case under FIR number 01/2024 at Police Station ACB Rajouri under section 5(1)(c)(d) r/w section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and section 120-B RPC against Shakeel Ahmed Mir, former President of the Municipal Committee Thanamandi, Mushtaq Ahmed, former Executive Officer, Riyaz Ahmed, former Storekeeper, and other officers/officials of Municipal Committee Thanamandi, as well as the Proprietor of M/s Gouri Sales Agencies and others.”
The case stems from allegations that the Municipal Committee Thanamandi, Rajouri, invited tenders for the installation of streetlights worth lakhs of rupees for specific brands and specifications, but inferior quality LED bulbs were supplied instead. It was found that only a portion of the received streetlights could be traced, while the rest could not be accounted for. Further investigations revealed irregularities in the procurement process, with no record of the receipt of purchased items.
“The accused public servants and others misappropriated/embezzled Government money just to confer undue pecuniary benefits to them as well as the supplier, resulting in a loss to the Government exchequer amounting to approximately Rs 5,96,870,” the statement said.
The accused individuals include Shakeel Ahmed Mir, former President of the Municipal Committee Thanamandi Rajouri, Mushtaq Ahmed, former Executive Officer (now EO MC Doda), Riyaz Ahmed, former Storekeeper (now Supervisor in MC Doda), and others.
Following the registration of the case, the ACB conducted searches at the residences of the accused individuals in District Rajouri with the assistance of local police, magistrates, and independent witnesses. Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
