EOW Files Chargesheet in Major Municipal Fraud Case in Budgam
Srinagar, December 16: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir on Tuesday filed a chargesheet before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in connection with FIR No. 03/2022, involving serious allegations of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and abuse of official position.
According to Crime Branch Kashmir, the chargesheet has been submitted under Sections 420, 468 and 120-B of the RPC, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, against three accused persons.
The accused have been identified as Gh. Mohi-ud-Din Dar, former President of Municipal Committee Budgam; Gh. Mohammad Mir; and Abdul Majid Bhat, all residents of Budgam district.
The case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale embezzlement and illegal allotment of a government-owned municipal building belonging to Municipal Committee Budgam. During the investigation, it was revealed that the then President MC Budgam misused and abused his official position to confer undue and wrongful benefits upon accused Gh. Mohammad Mir.
Investigators found that the allotment order, which was purportedly issued on the basis of a Municipal Committee resolution and approval from the Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, was forged and non-existent. The probe further established that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and prepared fake documents, including a forged allotment order, without any lawful authority or approval.
During the course of investigation, all three accused were examined and reportedly admitted their roles in the execution of the partnership deed, dissolution deed and issuance of the fake allotment order.
Based on substantial oral and documentary evidence collected during the probe, offences under Sections 120-B, 420 and 468 RPC have been established against all the accused. Additionally, the former President MC Budgam has been charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for abuse of official position.
Accordingly, the chargesheet has been submitted before the competent court for judicial adjudication, the Crime Branch said.
