Crime Branch Kashmir unearths massive corruption scam in Electric Division Sumbal, Sonawar

15 Executive Engineers, 25 Bank officials among 108 chargesheeted.

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JANUARY 02 (STC): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch has filed a comprehensive chargesheet against 108 accused persons in a high-stakes case involving massive embezzlement of government funds and illegal appointments in the Electric Division Sumbal, Sonawari.
The EOW Srinagar submitted the chargesheet in FIR No. 25/2018 under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 201, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla (district court at Baramulla/Baramulla jurisdiction), for judicial adjudication, said an official statement.
The chargesheet names 15 Executive Engineers (Executive Engineers), 6 Assistant Accounts Officers, 1 Accounts Assistant, 6 Head Assistants, 4 Senior Assistants—including the alleged kingpin, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik (S/o Sonaullah Malik, R/o Aragam, Bandipora, district Bandipora)—along with 4 Junior Assistants and 1 Orderly, all of whom were posted in the Electric Division Sumbal at the relevant time. The accused list also includes 25 officers and officials of J&K Bank, Sumbal Branch, Sonawari, and 46 fake employees who were allegedly appointed through fraudulent and unauthorized processes.
The case was registered after credible inputs indicated that the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), in conspiracy with divisional officials and bank personnel, illicitly withdrew crores of rupees from government accounts and created a network of fake appointments to siphon public funds. The investigation, conducted over several years, established a coordinated pattern of financial fraud, fund diversion, fabricated records, and criminal conspiracy, the statement said.
Investigators also recovered crores of rupees from the alleged kingpin, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, which were subsequently deposited into the Government Treasury. The probe further revealed that substantial sums were routed into multiple personal accounts of the accused, including savings accounts and term deposits, along with accrued interest, indicating prolonged illegal gains from public exchequer funds.

(Straight Talk Communications)