Finance Deptt audit proves hiring of vehicles beyond requirement, double drawal of funds

*Exercise completed in Jammu, at advanced stage in Valley
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 28: In a development which may lead to stern action against several police officers, the Finance Department has established hiring of vehicles beyond requirement by the Jammu and Kashmir Police Department and double drawal of funds sanctioned by Union Ministry of Home Affairs under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) during 2014 Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
The misappropriation of crores of rupees by the senior officers of the Police Department having drawing and disbursing powers in the carriage of constabulary and hiring of vehicles during Parliamentary and State Assembly elections 2014 was actually detected by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
Accordingly, the Accountant General Audit, J&K vide Communication No. COCHOV/2015-2016/07 dated March 28, 2016 referred the matter to the then Director General of J&K Police along with 162-page report mentioning that CAG has found Rs 6.09 crore worth irregularities and misappropriation by Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) while utilizing the funds kept available under Security Related Expenditure for carriage of constabulary and hiring of vehicles.
As entire Police Department had come under sharp criticism in the light of findings of the CAG, the Director General of Police vide Communication No.PHQ/Acctts/2016/49 dated June 4, 2016 referred the matter to the Crime Branch for holding inquiry in the light of audit observations. In the meantime, the Home Department referred the matter to the Finance Department vide Communication No. Home/ 39/ Acctts/ 2016/206 dated June 16, 2016 for conducting a detailed audit of the expenditure incurred on hiring of vehicles by DDOs of Police Department.
“The Finance Department has completed the audit in respect of DDOs of Police Department in Jammu province and submitted its findings to the Home Department while as in respect of Kashmir province the audit is still going on and will be completed shortly”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that findings of the Finance Department on certain important aspects are similar to those of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
They informed that Finance Department has revealed in its audit report that more than required number of vehicles were hired by several DDOs of Jammu province, which amounts to mis-utilization of MHA funds. “There was no justification behind hiring vehicles beyond actual requirement, which in some cases was not worked out before going in for engaging of vehicles of different types”, sources added.
Though the Finance Department has not put any weight behind the CAG observations vis-à-vis ‘ghost vehicles’ yet it has pointed out double drawal of payments by several DDOs of Jammu province, sources further informed, adding it has also pointed out that in certain cases the details of hired vehicles were not complete.
“Hiring of vehicles beyond actual requirement and double drawal of bills clearly established that funds were misappropriated as if there was no accountability in the department”, sources said, adding “the Home Department has asked the Finance Department to expeditiously complete the audit in respect of Kashmir province so as to facilitate the department in taking holistic view of findings”.
An officer of the Home Department told EXCELSIOR, on the condition of anonymity, that senior officers have already gone through the audit report in respect of Jammu province and on the receipt of report vis-à-vis Kashmir province appropriate directions will be passed to the Police Department.
“Besides recommending action against the erring officers of the Police Department the Home Department will also lay thrust on formulating a mechanism by Police Headquarters so that in future such embezzlements don’t take place”, he further said.
However, he could not divulge fate of report of the Crime Branch into the case, which was endorsed by the J&K Police Headquarters and sent to the Home Department long time back.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also Minister Incharge Home Department had on the floor of Assembly during the Budget Session concluded in the month of February this year announced that action against the erring officers would be taken after the receipt of audit report from the Finance Department.
“Now, it is to be seen whether the Home or Police Department initiates action against the erring officers or allows them to go scot free by merely issuing warning”, sources said.

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