Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 20: The Anti-Corruption Bureau Court in Srinagar today sentenced a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Habibul Hassan Beigh for one year imprisonment and Rs 15 lakh fine in a disproportionate assets case.
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Additional Special Judge Srinagar, Faizan-ul-Haq Iqbal, sentenced Habibul Hassan Beigh son of Ghulam Hassan Beigh of Chinar Colony Barzulla Srinagar, then member Special Tribunal J&K Government, for one year imprisonment and Rs 15 lakh fine.
A case (FIR No. 22/1997 U/S 5(1)(e),5(2) P.C Act.2006 r/w section12/14 of J&K Public Men & Public Servants Declaration of Assets & other provisions Act 1983) was registered on 24-04-1997 in Police Station VOK now ACB Srinagar into the allegations that said public servant has amassed huge property in the shape of movable/immovable assets during his service.
During the course of investigation by the ACB, the charges against the accused was proved guilty beyond any doubt with oral and documentary evidence.
The charge sheet of the case was presented by the P/S VOK on 13-11-2000 before the Court of Anti-Corruption Srinagar for judicial determination.
As per the investigations, the office has 4 kanals of Nazool land situated at Gogjibagh Srinagar have been leased out to the accused officer and his brother in equal shares vide Government Order No.NDK/354 of 1976 dated 30.11.1976.
The property is being shared equally by the accused and his brother; only half of the assessed cost worked out as Rs.23,99,676.00 has been taken into the assets of the accused officer.
Investigation has revealed that the accused officer has acquired a total land of 6 kanal and 14 marlas during the check period either in his own name or in the name of his wife.
He has moveable assets in the shape of furnishings and textile items, vehicle, silver utensils, bank balance and cash certificates and gold ornaments weighing 101.5 gms.
In the course of investigation, it transpired that the accused officer has deposited huge amounts in various Banks either in his own name or in the name of his family members. Besides, having a cash balance of Rs.52,525.47/- and Rs. 1,52,276/- in A/C No’s. O/SN/312 of ANZ Grindlays Bank Srinagar and Account No.SB/AC/5070 of J&K Bank Karol Bagh respectively. The accused was found to have invested huge amount of Rs.8,41,156/- as FDRs in his name and on the name of his family members during the year 1995-96 when he was posted as Secretary to the Government Social Welfare Department, which by all means is a lucrative posting.
On 10.11.1995 the accused officer was found to have obtained FDRs worth Rs.1,99,276/- in his own name. Besides this, the accused was also found to have deposited Rs.86,000/- in the name of his wife as STDR in State Bank of India, Srinagar which has been taken into his assets.
The investigation further revealed that during the check period i.e. August 1971 to May 1997, the accused officer has received a total income of Rs.20,43,302/- from all known sources of income as per the details given in the challan. The investigation thus revealed that as against Rs.56,92,001/- spent by accused in raising his assets both movable and immovable and meeting his day to day expenditure, he has received a total amount of Rs.20,43,302 as an income from all known sources of income and was thus found to be in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs.36,48,699.
In the meantime, the ACB registered a formal case in connection with a significant financial scam involving misappropriation of Government funds and manipulation of official software within the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir.
The ACB in a statement said that following a written complaint, a preliminary enquiry conducted by the agency revealed serious financial irregularities in the Accounts Section of the Directorate.
The enquiry identified two employees of the department- Javed Ahmad Bhat, Junior Assistant (then In-charge Bill Clerk) and Tawseef Dilshad Zargar, MTS (then Assistant to Bill Clerk) – as key accused in the scam.
The ACB said that the duo fraudulently tampered with the J&K PaySys software, a sensitive platform used for processing Government payments.
“They allegedly replaced the bank account details of legitimate vendors with their own or those of close relatives, thereby diverting substantial Government funds into private accounts.”
“This manipulation led to the misappropriation of public money amounting to several lakhs of rupees”. The ACB said that the enquiry further established that the accused abused their official positions and acted in criminal conspiracy with each other and potentially other unknown individuals to secure undue financial gains at the expense of the state exchequer.
The offences uncovered during the investigation are punishable under Sections 7, 13(1)(a), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Sections 120-B, 420, and 467 of the Indian Penal Code.
Accordingly, FIR No. 16/2025 has been registered against Javed Ahmad Bhat, Junior Assistant (then In-charge Bill Clerk), son of Late Ghulam Hassan Bhat, resident of Sheikh Mohallah, Brein, Nishat, Srinagar. Tawseef Dilshad Zargar, MTS (then Assistant to Bill Clerk), son of Late Dilshad Ahmad Zargar, resident of Chowdrigund, Shopian and others, whose involvement is under investigation.
“The ACB has formally taken up the investigation and assured that all those found guilty will be brought to justice in accordance with the law.”
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