Poonch, June 7: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against the former Block Development Officer (BDO); other officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD), Mendhar and beneficiaries for utilisation of funds on accounts of unexecuted work by making false vouchers and records.
According to an ACB spokesperson, the case in FIR No 03/2024 at Police Station ACB Rajouri U/S 5(1) (c) (d) r/w section 5(2) J&K PC Act, Svt 2006 and section 120-B RPC has been registered against the then Block Development Officer (BDO) Mendhar Aftab Ahmed, other officials of RDD Mendhar and beneficiaries, who are job card holders.
ACB spokesperson said that the case was registered on the outcome of a joint surprise check conducted under a written complaint against ex-Block Development Officer Mendhar and other officials of Panchayat Halqa Galhuta Kangra of Block Mendhar in district Poonch.
“The surprise check was conducted on alleged inter-alia misappropriation of funds on account of unexecuted works by making false vouchers and records. The probe conducted regarding works executed under MGNREGA by the Rural Development Department for the financial years 2018-19 in Panchayat Halqa Galhuta Kangra of block Mendhar district Poonch revealed that the officers and officials of RDD block Mendhar, by abuse of their official position and in furtherance of a well-knit conspiracy hatched amongst themselves and the beneficiaries, released excess labour payment to the tune of Rs 5036 and Rs 1,11,005 respectively in respect of the works – “construction of P/work, R/wall, C/wall at Mohalla Shabab” and construction of tile work near house of Irfan Ali, Ward No 10,” the spokesperson said.
During enquiries, it surfaced that these officials of BDO block Mendhar also released payment amounting to Rs 67,704 for the non-existent and unexecuted work namely “Construction of tile work at W No 2.”
The probe conducted revealed that these payments were released by the then BDO without submission of muster sheets, or attendance registers by the field officials, the spokesperson said.
By acting in this manner, the officers and officials of RDD Block Mendhar misappropriated Rs 1,83,745 (Rs 1,16,041 as excess payment and Rs 67,704 for the non-existent works) thus conferred undue benefit upon themselves and the beneficiaries with corresponding wrongful loss to the state exchequer.
“These omissions and commissions on the part of officers, officials of RDD block Mendhar namely Aftab Ahmed, then BDO Mendhar and other officials of Rural Development Department, block Mendhar in connivance with the beneficiaries (job card holders) prima facie constitute offences punishable u/s 5(1)(c)(d) r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act, 2006 & section 120-B RPC. Further investigation in the case is going on,” an ACB spokesperson said.