ACB books former XEn I&FC, others for embezzlement of funds

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against former Executive Engineer, AEE and JE of Flood & Irrigation Department on Thursday for embezzlement of funds.
As per an official spokesperson, ACB registered a case against Bansi Lal Bhardwaj, the then Executive Engineer; Virender Kumar Khajuria, the then AEE and Ravi Kant Khajuria, the then JE, Reasi Mahore Irrigation Division Dharmari, Reasi and other engineers for incurring huge expenditure in name of flood protection on both sides of river Chenab.
He further said that on basis of a verification conducted by Anti Corruption Bureau regarding allegations of huge expenditure incurred in name of flood protection on both sides of river Chenab at Reasi, despite which areas had suffered huge loss to life and property due to flash floods erupted in September 2014 and February 2015, it was revealed that 21 flood protection works were executed by then Executive Engineer, Mahore Irrigation Division Dharmari, Reasi on both sides of river Chenab during year 2010-11 to 2014-15. The 14 works were randomly checked, wherein a substantial loss to state exchequer was found in 6 works so executed on left bank of river Chenab at Chumbia during years 2010-11 to 2011-12. The verification further revealed that the flood protection work was allotted to contractors for an amount of Rs. 23.74 lakh by then Superintending Engineer Hydraulic Circle, Udhampur. The work was started on December 4, 2010 and completed on June 22, 2011 and a payment of Rs. 23,74,962 was made to contractors. However, at the same time two more works have been shown to be executed departmentally on aforesaid RD where the contractor had already undertaken work after allotment of contract, which was technically not justified. The concerned officers at site could not explain their position for aforesaid works, which was shown as technically sanctioned by the then XEn, Mahore Irrigation Division, Dharmari. The approval letter of this work was forged to cover up execution of works departmentally, he added.
The official further informed that verification has further revealed that the payments/expenditure of Rs 7,38,626 and Rs 3,34,894 shown to be executed/incurred departmentally by the concerned officers on the aforesaid two works, has infact been embezzled/ misappropriated by way of fabrication/ forging of record in league with each other as well as contractor, which ultimately caused wrongful gain to themselves and corresponding loss to state exchequer, he added. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 04/2020 at Police Station ACB Udhampur has been registered under Section 5 (1) (c)(d) read with Section 5 (2) of J&K PC Act. Svt 2006 and Sections 120-B, 409, 420, 467, 468 & 471 of RPC on prima facie establishment of offences against Bansi Lal Bhardwaj, the then Executive Engineer; Virender Kumar Khajuria, the then AEE and Ravi Kant Khajuria, the then JE Mahore Irrigation Division Dharmari, Reasi. After registration of case, searches were conducted during which incriminating material, documents were seized as evidence, he said, adding that further scrutiny of record is being conducted, and investigation is going on.