ACB Convicts Five in Pahalgam Food Grains Scam, Files Another Charge-sheet in Kupwara Fraud Case | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday secured a conviction after the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court in Anantnag found five former storekeepers guilty in a long-pending food grain misappropriation case linked to Pahalgam.

In a separate development, the agency also filed a chargesheet against a former Block Development Officer (BDO) of Kupwara and four others in a case involving alleged embezzlement of government funds.

According to official details, the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Anantnag, Masarat Roohi, convicted five accused persons—Abdul Khaliq Shah, Ghulam Nabi Mir, Mohammad Shafi Rather, Ghulam Hassan Hajam, and Muzaffar Ahmad Bichoo—for misappropriation of food grains and empty bags during their tenure as storekeepers in the Food and Supplies Department, Pahalgam Circle.

The case, registered in 1990, pertained to alleged embezzlement of food grains worth Rs 3,64,235.84 during the period April to September 1989. Following a complaint by the Deputy Director, Food and Supplies Department Srinagar, the Vigilance Organisation (now ACB) conducted an investigation and later filed a chargesheet in 2003. After prolonged trial proceedings, the court delivered its judgment on April 20, 2026, holding all five accused guilty under relevant provisions of the JK Prevention of Corruption Act and RPC. The matter has been listed for arguments on sentencing on April 24, 2026.

In a parallel action, the ACB has also filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 11/2021 against then BDO Kupwara Abdul Majeed Ganie, a junior assistant, a MISO/GRS official, and two private individuals for alleged misappropriation of development funds.

The investigation revealed that the accused officials, in connivance with private beneficiaries, allegedly manipulated official records and generated fraudulent Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) to divert government funds into unauthorized accounts, including those linked to relatives and associates.

The probe further found instances of double drawals, payments against non-existent works, and illegal diversion of labour payments under job card schemes. It also noted deliberate destruction and withholding of official records, along with non-production of digital evidence, indicating attempts to conceal the offence.

The accused are alleged to have caused a wrongful loss of Rs 4.86 lakh to the State exchequer while gaining corresponding illegal benefits. The chargesheet has been submitted before the competent court for judicial determination.

The ACB stated that the developments reflect its continued efforts to ensure accountability and strengthen action against corruption in public administration.