Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: A local court here discharged the former Works Minister Naeem Akhtar and two J&K Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) officers in connection with cheating and corruption case of the year 2019.
The Special Judge Anti-Corruption Srinagar presided over by Surinder Singh has discharged the former Works Minister and senior PDP leader- Naeem Akhtar and former MD JKPCC along with other officials from the charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and other offences.
The challan which was outcome of the FIR No.10/2019 registered against the Minister and JKPCC officials was registered under Section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act and under RPC Sections of 420 (cheating), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 167 (create or translate an incorrect document etc) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) pertained to alleged irregularity in appointing one Vikar Mustafa Shonthu as Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corp (JKPCC).
The Crime Branch was investigating the case and after thorough investigation the charge-sheet was filed by the investigating agency against the trio in the year 2021.
The Public Prosecutor while arguing the case on charges prayed that all the accused involved in the case be charged and put to trial by allowing the investigating agency to adduce evidence for committing offences as mentioned in the FIR against these persons.
On the other hand, the opposite counsel submitted that no illegality was committed in the giving “look after” charge to Shonthu as MD after superannuation of the ex-MD. The counsel said that Shonthu only drew salary as provided in the grade assigned to him and no extra money was paid to him.
He said that duty assigned to Shonthu was not similar to promotion and no loss was caused to the exchequer. After hearing the arguments from parties, the court discharged the accused persons.
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