Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday filed a charge-sheet against 10 persons, including two former executive engineers and a private contractor, in connection with alleged embezzlement of government material and fraudulent release of security deposits during construction of a bridge in Kupwara.
The accused include former executive engineers Mohammad Sultan Sheikh and Ajit Singh Chopra, besides other engineering and accounts officials of the PWD (R&B) Division, Kupwara, and contractor Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone.
The case pertains to the construction of a steel bridge at Lastiyal-Kalaroose in Kupwara and involves allegations of misappropriation of government store material, forgery, abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy, the ACB said.
According to the investigation, the bridge work was allotted to Lone in September 2010 with a stipulated completion period of three months. However, the contractor started the work after a considerable delay, executed only part of it and subsequently abandoned the project.
Government store material, including cement and steel worth around Rs 5.63 lakh, remained unaccounted for or unrecovered, the agency said.
The investigation also found that the contractor’s cash deposit receipt (CDR) of Rs 73,000 was allegedly released and encashed fraudulently on the basis of a forged departmental communication.
Besides, bill deposits amounting to Rs 81,400 were allegedly released despite outstanding government liabilities, resulting in lapses in safeguarding government material and recovery of dues, the ACB said.
The agency alleged that the acts of omission and commission by the accused public servants, in connivance with the contractor, caused a total loss of Rs 7.12 lakh to the state exchequer.
The charge-sheet was filed before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, after completion of the investigation and obtaining the requisite sanction for prosecution against the serving public servants.
All 10 accused were produced before the court on Monday and were granted bail after furnishing bail and surety bonds as directed by the court.
The court has fixed November 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing.
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