Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 21: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today registered a case of disproportionate assets (DA) against a storekeeper from north Kashmir’s Sopore for allegedly amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income.
In a statement issued here, the ACB said that verification conducted into allegations of the accumulation of assets disproportionate to known sources of income revealed that the accused had acquired properties in his own name as well as in the names of his family members.
The accused has been identified as Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, In-charge Storekeeper in the FCS&CA Department, son of Abdul Rashid Bhat, a resident of Tarzoo, Sopore, currently residing at Sidiq Colony, Noorabad Bypass, Sopore, District Baramulla.
“The accused was appointed as Depot Assistant in the CAPD Department in the year 1998 and, while being posted as In-Charge Storekeeper at various locations in District Baramulla during the period from 01.01.2008 to 31.12.2016, accumulated various assets in the shape of immovable/moveable properties in his own name as well as in the names of his family members,” the ACB statement said.
Details of some of the assets and expenditures, as per the ACB, include one kanal of land under Survey No. 204 situated at Estate Ranbir Garh Pratap Garh, Mirgund (purchased in 2008); one kanal of land under Survey Nos. 3099/1264 min and 3097/1265 situated at Noorabad Bypass, Estate Nowpora Kalan, Sopore (purchased in 2010); and seven marlas of land (Plot No. 240-A in Bay 04, size 38′ x 50′) at Rakh Arath Housing Colony, Bemina, Srinagar (purchased in 2014).
The statement further noted that a double-storey residential house was constructed on the Bemina plot between 2014 and 2016.
In addition, the accused purchased a Maruti 800 (JK05B-6670) from Jamkash Vehicleades, Sangrama Baramulla, in 2013, and a Scooty (Aviator, JK05D-4662) from JK Stationers, M.A. Road, Srinagar, the same year.
“Besides this, the verification conducted also revealed that the storekeeper had made huge cash deposits in his bank accounts as well as in the bank accounts of his family members during the check period. This aspect is subject to further investigation,” the ACB said.
The ACB said the value of assets acquired and the expenditures incurred by the public servant during the check period were found to be grossly disproportionate to his known legal sources of income, for which he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.
Following the culmination of the verification process, a formal case was registered and investigation was initiated.
Immediately after registration of the case, search warrants were obtained from the Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla.
As per ACB, searches were carried out at multiple locations linked to the accused, during which various incriminating materials related to the case were recovered and seized in the presence of magistrates. Further investigation is underway.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
