J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau Registers Case Against SICOP Project Manager and Others
PTK NEWS DESK
The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, the Project Manager (Executive Engineer) of SICOP Kashmir, and other individuals, following a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) that unveiled significant irregularities in the allotment of a construction project. The case pertains to the illegal allotment of a contract for constructing a U-shaped RCC drain at Industrial Estate Khrew, a project initially valued at ₹108 lakh but later extended to ₹263 lakh, allegedly in violation of established procedures.
According to the ACB’s probe, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, in collaboration with the Estates Manager SICOP, allotted the project to M/S Ubaid Rashid Wani, a Class ‘B’ contractor, despite the contractor’s ineligibility for such a high-value contract. The original NIT (Notice Inviting Tender) issued offline in November 2019 invited bids from Class ‘A’ and ‘B’ contractors for the project, which had an advertised cost of ₹99 lakh. Although four bids were received, the work was eventually awarded to M/S Ubaid Rashid Wani for ₹107 lakh, bypassing the norms that restricted Class ‘B’ contractors to projects under ₹50 lakh, as per SRO-196 of 2011.
The investigation revealed that the Project Manager not only facilitated this illegal allotment but also approved substantial extensions, inflating the project’s cost to ₹2.69 crore. These actions are believed to be part of a conspiracy between Bhat and the contractor, aimed at deriving pecuniary benefits through the misuse of official powers.
Following the discovery of these irregularities, FIR No. 05/2024 was registered at the ACB Police Station in Anantnag. The investigation was promptly initiated, and search warrants were obtained from the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court in Pulwama. Subsequently, simultaneous searches were conducted at multiple locations, including the residences of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat in Charsoo Awantipora and Momindabad Batamaloo, as well as the residence of Ubaid Rashid Wani in Hyderpora, Srinagar. During these searches, incriminating documents related to the case were seized.
The investigation is ongoing, and the ACB is working to uncover the full extent of the corruption and the involvement of other individuals in the matter.
