Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 23: Crime Branch has unearthed Rs 17 crore worth embezzlement in Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department at Reasi.
According to the FIR registered with Crime Branch Jammu, various complaints with regard to misappropriation/embezzlement of ration and carriage funds worth crores of rupees by Tehsil Supply Officers Mahore and Chassana in connivance with the ration dealers and officers/officials of the CA&PD Department were filed by Zarifa Begam and Qamer Din, residents of village Bagoodas through Numberdar Dharm Singh and inhabitants of village Shajroo through ex- Sarpanch Kartar Singh in the office of SDPO Mahore.
On the receipt of these complaints, a preliminary enquiry was conducted by SDPO Mahore and it was found that an amount of Rs 17 crore had been misappropriated/embezzled since last five years after fraudulently withdrawing the same from the accounts of TSO Mahore/Chassana maintained in J&K Bank Reasi, in the name of carriage charges which were in fact never paid/utilized as ration was never distributed in the respective centers.
It was also found that TSO Mahore and TSO Chassana had prepared fake and fabricated records/bills related to carriage charges as the ration was being distributed at the road heads and not at the respective village centers. It was further found that huge assets disproportionate to the known source of income have been raised by the TSOs, store keepers, ration dealers and other officers/officials of the CA&PD Department through fraudulent means thereby causing huge loss to the State exchequer.
After the conclusion of the enquiry, the matter was referred by SP Reasi to the Crime Branch for registration of a formal case for in-depth investigation. “The omissions and commissions, therefore, on the part of TSO Mahore, Chassana/store keepers/ration dealers and officers/officials of CA&PD Department, prima facie, constitute offences punishable under Sections 420, 465, 466, 467, 468, 471,120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) PC Act, 2006”, a spokesman of the Crime Branch said, adding a formal case has been registered against the mentioned accused persons.
SSP Crime Branch Jammu, Mubassir Latifi said, “several top level officials of the CAPD Department are involved and nobody will be spared”.
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