Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: Anti Corruption Bureau today filed charge sheets against Ishafaq Zargar, the then Superintendent Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing, Kashmir, PWD (R&B) J&K, and three others for criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit fraud and corruption.
Charge sheet in case FIR number 26/2011 of Police Station Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (now Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Srinagar), was produced in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Anantnag.
The ACB has filed charges of criminal conspiracy, forging documents and using them to commit cheating/fraud and corruption against the accused persons, namely Abdul Rahim Rather of Nagam, Kokernag; Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar (retired as Superintending Engineer from Rural Engineering Wing Kashmir of PWD (R&B) J&K; Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Draftsman, JKPCC Unit 2nd Srinagar, and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, Senior Assistant, JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam.
The matter pertains to period of 2008-2010, during which J&K Projects Construction Corporation Limited was mandated with execution of the jobs of construction of several buildings for various Government offices in district Kulgam, including one for Mini Secretariat cum DC office Kulgam. Abdul Rahim Rather, who owns many brick kilns, entered into a criminal conspiracy with Ishfaq Ahmad Zargar, the then Deputy General Manager JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, the then Draftsman JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam and Mohammad Yousuf Dar, the then Camp Clerk JKPCC Unit 11th Kulgam- with an object to secure for himself bulk orders for supply of bricks required for construction of Government buildings by corrupt and illegal means from JKPCC.
These four persons in connivance with each other, forged documents. They misused these forged documents to ensure exclusion of all other bidders from participation in fair competition. The said DGM, Ishfaq Ahmad intentionally gave limited publicity to tender notices by publishing NITs in a newspaper sparingly circulated in district Kulgam. All this was done to issue orders for supply of bricks to said Abdul Rahim Rather (beneficiary) at rates exorbitantly higher than even the highest selling rates at that time in the area.
Orders for supply of 918833 bricks @ Rs 4.44 per brick were issued in favour of the blue eyed boy in contrast to the highest sale rate of Rs 3.76 per brick inclusive of carriage charges prevalent at the time. As a result, wrongful loss of Rs 62,4,806 was caused to the public exchequer.
Evidence was collected and case of corruption and other crimes were established during investigation against the accused persons. Accordingly, accused in the case, were produced in police custody before the court today for further judicial determination.
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