ACB Registers FIR, Probes Ex-Cop’s Assets Spread Across Five Locations

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has initiated a formal probe into allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income by a terminated police official, Selection Grade Constable Firdous Ahmad.

A secret verification by ACB into the conduct of the accused revealed that he had allegedly acquired a range of substantial assets, both movable and immovable, in his name and those of his close family members, far exceeding his known income as a public servant.

The properties unearthed during verification include a two-storeyed residential house built by the accused on ancestral land at Hugam in Srigufwara area of Anantnag district, a luxurious mansion on a 1 kanal 10 marla plot in the prime estate of Machbhawan Mattan, and a one-third ownership share in Hotel Grand Lords located at Movora, Tehsil Salar, Pahalgam. In addition, a double-storeyed house at Tawi Vihar, Sidra in Jammu was also identified as part of the suspected disproportionate wealth.

Subsequently, the ACB registered a case under FIR No. 03/2025 U/S 13(1)(b) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station ACB Anantnag against the terminated official.

Following registration of the FIR, the ACB obtained search warrants from the Hon’ble Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Anantnag to conduct raids at all the listed properties. During the course of searches, officials also discovered that Firdous Ahmad had been allotted a government police quarter at Police Housing Colony Bemina in Srinagar. This location was also searched under the authorisation of SSP ACB Anantnag.

Simultaneous searches at all locations—Hugam, Mattan, Pahalgam, Sidra Jammu, and Bemina Srinagar—were launched by ACB teams, and according to officials, the raids were still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

Further investigation into the matter is in full swing, as the ACB continues to examine financial records, property documents, and other crucial evidence to determine the full extent of the assets and the sources behind their acquisition. [KNT]