Srinagar: While Sleuths of State Vigilance Organization raided the office premises and residence of director Rural Development department Kashmir Gazanfar Ali, who claimed that Vigilance Organisation has given a clean chit to him as “nothing objectionable” was found.
Spokeman of SV said that the joint surprise check was conducted by the SVO sleuths after the allegations came to fore that the director had issued a supply order without following the codal formalities in favour of a particular supplier for providing and fixing of hoardings in district Baramulla and Kupwara.
“The joint surprise check has established misappropriation of funds by the accused public servant. It has also been established that the accused has caused wrongful loss to the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 13, 53,335/- by hatching a criminal conspiracy along with the accused supplier. The investigation of the case is going on for further course of action,” the statement said.
The statement said, “Raid was conducted after registering a FIR No. 26/2017 under section 5(1)d r/w 5(2) J&K PC Act Svt 2006 and section 120-B RPC of P/S VOK . After registering the FIR the SVO sleuths obtained search warrant from the anti-corruption court and raided the residence and office premises of the director Rural Development Department, Kashmir,” the statement said.
Hiwever Ali said that he is being made “scapegoat, what for? I don’t know”.
“The Vigilance didn’t find anything objectionable at my house and later gave me a clean chit before the magistrate. Actually it is about the hoardings the Rural Development had erected in Kupwara district under our MGNREGA program. Since the contract was given to a Central Government and they have their own charges along with VAT,” he said.
“I am the whistleblower in this case and we have communicated to officials about the issue. SV has been mis informed about the case,” Ali said.
Clearing his position, Ali said that he lived a simple life. “After 33 years in service, the sleuths of Vigilance didn’t find me living in a palace. They conducted the raid and later gave a clean chit,” he added.
