ACB charge sheets former PHE officials in Bandipora over 2 crore government store embezzlement case
SRINAGAR, June 25, 2026: The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir has filed a charge sheet before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, against two retired public servants for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement and misappropriation of government store material worth over 2.13 crore rupees in the then PHE Hydraulic Division, Bandipora.
The charge sheet has been filed against Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, the then Senior Assistant and Storekeeper, and Mukhtar Ahmad Mir, the then In-charge Executive Engineer of the PHE Hydraulic Division in Bandipora, for offences punishable under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code.
The case originated from source information alleging large-scale embezzlement of government store material procured by the PHE Hydraulic Division in Bandipora during the financial year 2011-12. An open verification conducted by the then Vigilance Organization Kashmir revealed shortages and deficiencies in store material, leading to the registration of the case and initiation of a detailed investigation.
The probe revealed that the accused public servants, while entrusted with the custody, management, and supervision of government stores, entered into a criminal conspiracy and dishonestly misappropriated substantial quantities of GI pipes, Union GI pipes, QCC pipes, and TMT bars. While the loss detected during the initial verification was assessed at 65.11 lakh rupees, the detailed investigation established the actual loss to the government at 2,13,16,362 rupees.
Investigation established that Bashir Ahmad Sheikh continued to function as storekeeper and retained control of the divisional stores even after his retirement, with the knowledge and permission of Mukhtar Ahmad Mir, who also failed to ensure proper supervision and mandatory verification of stores.
The investigation further revealed serious violations of the Jammu and Kashmir Financial Code governing government stores, and physical verification coupled with record reconciliation established substantial shortages of store material, resulting in a huge loss to the state exchequer.
The investigation concluded that the accused public servants, in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy and by abusing their official positions, dishonestly misappropriated government property and caused a corresponding wrongful loss of over 2.13 crore rupees to the state exchequer. The accused persons were produced before the court, which admitted them to bail upon furnishing personal bail bonds. The next date of hearing has been fixed for September 5, 2026.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Jammu and Kashmir remains steadfast in its commitment to combating corruption and upholding accountability, and will continue to take stringent action against all acts of embezzlement, misappropriation, and misuse of public funds and assets.