ACB registers FIR against the officers and officials of Directorate of Technical Education Department Srinagar for undue pecuniary benefits conferred upon contractors S.K Trading Corporation in terms of irregularities adopted while issuing the NIT etc.: Searches conducted

A Joint Surprise Check (JSC) was conducted by ACB to look into the allegations of fraud, corruption and embezzlement of public money by Sh. Rafiq Ahmad Shah the then Account Officer and other officers/ officials of Directorate of Technical Education Srinagar J&K.

2. It was established in the JSC that e-tenders were floated by Director of Technical Education Srinagar dated 23.06.2016 as well as 28.11.2016 for supply of looms and machinery for use in newly established Polytechnics of J&K under Heritage Craft courses in these institutions, but due to poor response, via a high level committee changes were proposed in the specifications/ machinery/ equipments in consultation with experts, pursuant to which a fresh tender dated 16.11.2017 was floated.

3. In response to fresh tender, out of 04 suppliers so participated, 03 including one M/S S. K. Trading Corporation were declared successful, for supply of equipments, which delivered the equipments as per supply order dated 04.01.2018 and 08.01.2018 at nominated ITI’s in J&K. On receipt of same, the Principals of ITI Anantnag, Baramulla and Bemina observed certain short comings in the supply of material. These Principals specifically pointed out that material supplied did not meet the specifications mentioned in supply order. Instead of adhering to the observation made by Principals regarding handlooms, a committee was constituted by Directorate of Technical Education, J&K vide order no. 309 of 2018 dated 30-03-2018 for physical inspection of machinery/ equipments which submitted their report highlighted certain discrepancies yet certified the supplies so made by M/S S. K. Trading Corporation as being in conformity with specifications. As a result of which, part of payments were made by the department in favour of suppliers against the supply.

4. It is also alleged that these Principals were transferred by Directorate as punishment for raising observations in the purchase order by Directorate. It is pertinent to mention that the said verification committee report reflects favouritism while ignoring the short comings so raised by three Institutional Heads i.e Principal of ITI Anantnag, Baramulla and Bemina, just to confer undue benefits to the firm M/S S. K Trading Corporation to whom the major portion of supply was allotted. The supply order was issued by Rafiq Ahmad Shah the then Accounts Office Technical Education J&K.

5. In this manner, the officers, officials of Directorate Technical Education Department J&K, by abuse of their official positions and in league with other officials as well as with supplier firm M/S S. K Trading Corporation have conferred undue pecuniary benefit upon the given firm. Substantial loss has been caused to the state exchequer by affecting the substandard purchases. These purchases were not in conformity with specifications of supply order.

6. Accordingly a Case FIR No. 10/2020 u/s 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and section 120 B RPC has been registered against Sh. Rafiq Ahmad Shah the then Accounts Officer Technical Education J&K, officers/ officials of Directorate of Technical Education J&K and the beneficiary namely Showkat Ahmad Banday s/o Mohmad Shafi Banday the Proprietor M/S S. K Trading Corporation, Srinagar and others.

7. In compliance to the Hon’ble Court orders, searches were conducted in the residential houses of the accused Sh. Rafiq Ahmad Shah at Saiwan, Lolab in Kupwara and Bemina in Srinagar. Incriminating document were seized.

8. The investigation of the case is in process.

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