Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 13: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar R N Wattal has denied bail to Zaheer Abbas Bhatti, son of Muneer Hussain Bhatti of Vidhata Nagar Jammu, who has been booked under Prevention of Corruption Act by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The FIR was registered against Zaheer Abbas Bhatti on the basis of outcome of a joint surprise check conducted by ACB into the allegations of fraud, corruption and embezzlement of public money by NGO M/s Social Welfare of India and officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation in construction of Individual House Hold Latrines (IHHL) units under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) scheme.
During the joint surprise check it was revealed that the accused was functioning as Director M/s Social Welfare of India and by way of abusing his official position in connivance with officials of Engineering wing of Srinagar Municipal Corporation submitted false completion/verification report to higher authorities for facilitating the release of huge amount in favour of NGO as such conferred undue benefit upon themselves.
After hearing Public Prosecutor and counsel for the accused, the court observed, “the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. The very object of Swachh Bharat Scheme started on 150th anniversary of Father of Nation that was to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management was thrown to winds by the petitioner in conspiracy with the officials of Municipality so as to swindle the money under the scheme”.
“Not a single latrine was constructed on spot and documents were manipulated pursuant to conspiracy to give an impression about the construction of IHHL units on spot. The construction of IHHL units remained on papers only without execution on spot. Resultantly, the Government exchequer was defrauded and loss to the tune of Rs 39 lakh was caused to the Government exchequer”, the court observed.
The court further said, “what the petitioner and other co-accused have done by swaddling the money under the scheme is not only dis-service to society but disrespect to Gandhian ideals”, adding “any concession of bail in favour of petitioner shall not be taken in good taste by every individual of the society”.
With these observations, court rejected the bail application.
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