30/04/2025
Daily Wadi Kashmir News Network
ACB files Chargesheet against former ZEO and Junior Assistant for embezzlement of over 27 Lakh in scholarship funds
Srinagar, Apr 29 : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, against Abdul Rashid Mir, the then Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Chandanwari, Baramulla, and Bashir Ahmad Lone, the then Junior Assistant in the office of ZEO Chandanwari, for the alleged misappropriation/embezzlement of over 27 lakh from scholarship funds meant for Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari-speaking students.
The action was initiated following a complaint titled Ghulam Qadir Mir vs. Education Zone Boniyar, received through the State Vigilance Commission, J&K. The complaint alleged fraud and embezzlement in the disbursement of scholarship funds in Education Zone Chandanwari, District Baramulla. Upon verification by the ACB, the allegations of embezzlement in various education zones of Baramulla district were found to be substantiated.
Based on the findings and recommendations of the Enquiry Officer, three separate FIRs—FIR No. 19/2018, FIR No. 20/2018, and FIR No. 21/2018—were registered at Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir (now Police Station ACB Baramulla) against various officers/officials of three different education zones in Baramulla district. Investigations were subsequently initiated into the fraudulent disbursement of scholarship funds meant for Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari-speaking students during the academic years 2009–10, 2010–11, and 2011–12.
Investigations revealed that an amount of approximately ₹27 lakh was embezzled by the accused public servants. The acquittance registers for the said academic years were found to contain fictitious names of non-existent students, against whom large amounts were shown as disbursed. Additionally, it was found that funds were fraudulently obtained in excess of the actual student roll, resulting in further misappropriation of ₹23,15,400.
The investigation further established that the accused, in connivance with each other, abused their official positions and violated prescribed norms. They inflated the number of beneficiary students by including fictitious names from the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari-speaking communities, thereby securing undue pecuniary advantage and causing significant loss to the state exchequer.
Upon completion of the investigation, a chargesheet (challan), as envisaged under Section 173 CrPC, was submitted before the Hon’ble Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Baramulla. The accused public servants have been charged under Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006, and Sections 468, 471, 201, and 120-B RPC.
The accused—(1) Abdul Rashid Mir, then ZEO Chandanwari (now retired), S/o Abdul Gaffar Mir, R/o Hundi Nowshera Uri, presently residing at Gantmulla Bala, Baramulla, and (2) Bashir Ahmad Lone, then Junior Assistant (now retired), S/o Wali Mohammad Lone, R/o Bijhama Boniyar Uri—were presented before the Hon’ble Court and were released on bail.
The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for 15-07-2025.
