Anti Corruption Bureau J&K files chargesheet against Ishafaq Zargar, the then Superintendent Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing, Kashmir, PWD R&B J&K, Abdul Rahim Rather, and two others

Anti Corruption Bureau, J&K filed challan of case FIR no. 26/2011 of Police Station Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (now Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Srinagar), in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Anantnag. The ACB has filed charges of criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit cheating/fraud and corruption against four persons: a) Abdul Rahim Rather S/O Mohammad Ahsan Rather R/O Nagam, Kokernag presently R/O Gulshanabad, tehsil and District Anantnag; b) Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar (retired as Superintendent Engineer from Rural Engineering Wing Kashmir of PWD R&B J&K) S/O Late Mohammad Yousuf Zargar R/O Opposite Beeco Gallery, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar; c) Bashir Ahmad Bhat (Draftsman, JKPCC Unit 2nd Srinagar) S/O Ghulam Mohammad Bhat R/O Herpora, Rathsuna tehsil Tral and d) Mohammad Yousuf Dar (Senior Assistant, JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam) S/O Abdul Rehman Dar R/O Kavpora, Marhama tehsil Bijbehara.

2. The matter pertains to period of 2008-2010, during which J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited was mandated with execution of the jobs of construction of several buildings for various government offices in district Kulgam, including one for Mini Secretariat cum D.C office Kulgam. Abdul Rahim Rather ,who owns many brick kilns, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, the then Deputy General Manager JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Draftsman JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, the then Camp Clerk JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam- with an object to secure for himself bulk orders for supply of bricks required for construction of buildings to house various government offices in district Kulgam, by corrupt and illegal means from JKPCC.

3. To pursue object of the conspiracy, these four persons in connivance with each other, forged documents. They misused these forged documents to ensure exclusion of all other bidders from participation in fair competition and to keep bidders away from winning tenders for supply of bricks to JKPCC unit Kulgam. The said DGM, Ishfaq Ahmad intentionally gave limited publicity to notices inviting tenders for supply of bricks, by publishing NIT’s in a newspaper sparingly circulated in district Kulgam. All this was done to issue orders for supply of bricks to said Abdul Rahim Rather (beneficiary) at rates exorbitantly higher than even the highest selling rates inclusive of carriage charges of the bricks prevalent at that time in the area. Orders for supply of 918833 bricks @ Rs. 4.44 per brick were issued in favour of the blue eyed boy in contrast to the highest sale rate of Rs. 3.76 per brick inclusive of carriage charges prevalent at the time.

4. As a result, wrongful loss of Rs. 62,4,806 was caused to the public exchequer. The Vigilance Organisation (now Anti Corruption Bureau) had registered FIR no. 26/2011 under various sections of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Ranbir Penal Code. Evidence was collected and case of corruption and other crimes was established during investigation against the four accused persons. Accordingly, accused in the case, were produced in police custody before the court today for further judicial determination.

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