Kashmir Corruption Scandal: EOW Files Massive Chargesheet Against 108 Officials, Including 15 Executive Engineers

SRINAGAR, Jan 2, 2026 — In one of the most significant anti-graft operations in recent history, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Srinagar Crime Branch has officially submitted a comprehensive chargesheet against 108 individuals involved in a multi-crore embezzlement and illegal recruitment racket.

Filed before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption in Baramulla, the chargesheet stems from FIR No. 25/2018, exposing a deep-rooted conspiracy within the Electric Division Sumbal.

The accused face a litany of serious charges under the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including fraud, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and the diversion of massive government funds.The scale of the racket is staggering, implicating a vast network of high-ranking officials and financial insiders.

Among the 108 charged are 15 Executive Engineers, six Assistant Accounts Officers, and various administrative staff, including the alleged kingpin, Senior Assistant Mushtaq Ahmad Malik. The investigation also snared 25 officials from J&K Bank’s Sumbal Sonawari branch, who reportedly conspired with department heads to facilitate the fraudulent withdrawal of crores of rupees.

Furthermore, the EOW identified 46 “fake employees” who were illegally appointed to government positions as part of the elaborate scam.The EOW’s probe revealed that the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO), in league with bank staff, diverted public money into private savings accounts and high-interest term deposits.

In a major win for the treasury, investigators successfully recovered crores of rupees directly from the kingpin, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, which have since been deposited back into the government exchequer. With the government formally sanctioning the prosecution, the case now moves to judicial adjudication, marking a decisive blow against systemic corruption and the misuse of public office in the region.