Srinagar:State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) on Thursday conducted raids at the offices at Satwari and Janipur, two residences at Channi Himmat and two Palm Rivera flats at Akhnoor Road owned by a ‘millionaire’ Junior Assistant of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, who is holding charge of three Tehsil Supply Officers (TSOs) because of his close proximity with ministers.
Huge quantity of gold and silver ornaments weighing four kilograms and 11 kilograms respectively, luxury cars like Fortuner, Innova and i10 were recovered by the raiding party. In addition, documents related to several flats in Jammu, Delhi and Chandigarh were also seized during the raids.
The accused Junior Assistant, Pranav Gandotra, the then Incharge TSO Rajouri and Kalakote and at present Inspector TSO Kerosene Oil with additional charge of TSO Circle-II (West) Jammu has been booked under FIR 21/2018 under Section 5 (1) (c), 5(1) (d) read with Section 5 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act Svt. 2006.
The case was registered on the basis of verification conducted into the complaint lodged by one Mohd Zaffar, son of Ghulam Abbas, resident of Ward Number 8 District Rajouri alleging therein that Pranav Gandotra Incharge TSO Rajouri and Kalakote had received Rs. 80,20,914 from Assistant Director CAPD Department Rajouri through two official cheques on account of handling charges, meant to be disbursed to the concerned private ration dealers in district Rajouri. However, Pranav Gandotra had disbursed lesser amount to the private dealers and had thus wrongly withdrawn the remaining amount from treasury.
Verification conducted by the Vigilance into the allegations revealed that Pranav Gandotra, the then I/C TSO Rajouri had received two cheques issued by Assistant Director, CA&PD Rajouri bearing No 132004 dated June 3, 2015 & No 132014 dated June 10, 2015 amounting to Rs. 39,56,094 and Rs.
41,64,820 respectively for disbursement of handling charges among the private ration dealers. However, on examination of the ration dealers and scrutiny of record by the Vigilance Organization, it came to fore that he actually disbursed lesser amount to the private ration dealers and manipulated the official records thereby misappropriated huge amount of government money causing corresponding loss to the state ex-chequer.
Verification further revealed that Pranav in a short span of service career enjoyed prize postings managed on the basis of illegal activities and ill gotten money.
On the prima-facie establishment of allegations, Vigilance Organization registered a formal case under relevant section of law and also conducted simultaneous raids with the help of local police /magistrates at the residences/flats/office of accused person in Jammu in presence of independent witnesses.
