ACB Registers Case Against Former BDO Mendhar and RDD Officials for Misappropriation of Funds
PTK NEWS DESK
Poonch, June 7: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a case against Aftab Ahmed, the former Block Development Officer (BDO) of Mendhar, and other officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD), Mendhar Block. This includes job card holders and beneficiaries involved in the alleged misappropriation of funds.
The case, FIR No. 03/2024 at Police Station ACB Rajouri, has been registered under Section 5(1)(c)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The investigation follows a Joint Surprise Check prompted by a written complaint against the BDO and others in Panchayat Halqua Galhuta Kangra, Block Mendhar, District Poonch. The complaint alleged misappropriation of funds through falsified vouchers and records for unexecuted works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the financial year 2018-19.
The investigation revealed that officials of RDD Block Mendhar, abusing their official positions and in conspiracy with beneficiaries, released excess labor payments totaling ₹5,036 and ₹1,11,005 for the works titled “Construction of P/work, R/wall, C/wall at Mohalla Shabab” and “Construction of Tile work near H/O Irfan Ali Ward No. 10” respectively.
Further, the probe uncovered the release of ₹67,704 for a non-existent project, the “Construction of tile work at W. No. 2.” These payments were authorized by the then BDO without the required muster sheets or attendance registers from field officials.
By these actions, the RDD Block Mendhar officials misappropriated ₹1,83,745 (₹1,16,041 in excess payments and ₹67,704 for non-existent works), thereby causing undue benefits to themselves and beneficiaries and a corresponding wrongful loss to the state exchequer.
The actions of Aftab Ahmed and other RDD officials, in connivance with the beneficiaries, prima facie constitute offenses punishable under the J&K PC Act, 2006, and the Ranbir Penal Code. The investigation is ongoing.
