Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: The State Vigilance Organization (SVO) today registered a case against Pranav Gandotra, then Incharge TSO, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department (FCS&CA) Rajouri and Kalakote and at present Inspector TSO Kerosene Oil with additional charge of TSO Circle-II (West) Jammu. The Vigilance raided his house and other premises and seized large quantity of gold and silver.
The instant case was registered on the basis of verification conducted into the complaint lodged by one Mohd Zaffar son of Ghulam Abbas R/o Ward No 8, Rajouri alleging therein that Gandotra had received an amount of Rs 8020914 from Assistant Director CA&PD department Rajouri through two official cheques on amount of handling charges, meant to be disbursed to the concerned private ration dealers in district Rajouri.
However, the officer disbursed lesser amount to the private dealers and withdrew the remaining amount from treasury.
Verification conducted by the Vigilance Organization into the allegations revealed that Pranav Gandotra received two cheques issued by Assistant Director, CA&PD Rajouri amounting to Rs. 39,56,094 and Rs. 41,64,820 respectively for disbursement of handling charges among the private ration dealers.
However, on examination of the ration dealers and scrutiny of record by the Vigilance Organization, it came to fore that he had actually disbursed lesser amount to the private ration dealers and manipulated the official record thereby misappropriating huge amount of Government money causing corresponding loss to the State exchequer.
Verification further revealed that suspect officer in a short span of service career enjoyed prize postings managed on the basis of illegal activities and ill gotten money. On the prima-facie establishment of allegations, Vigilance Organization has registered a formal case under relevant Sections of law and also conducted simultaneous raids with the help of local police /magistrates at the residences/ flats/office of accused person in Jammu in presence of independent witnesses.
During the process, huge quantity of gold (weighing more than 4 kilograms), silver (weighing more than 11 kilograms) in the shape of ornaments/utensils worth in crores, were recovered and seized.
Documents pertaining to various immovable properties acquired by accused public servant were also recovered and seized. Further detail of moveable property i.e. Fortuner car, Innova car and i10 Car have been obtained. Detailed and in-depth scrutiny of the seized record will be carried out during further course of investigation by sleuths of the Vigilance Organization, an official handout said.
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