Property of yet another corrupt official attached in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation (VO) has attached the property of yet another corrupt official under the provisions of amended Prevention of Corruption Act.

The VO has so far attached the property of more than a dozen officials in the state.

The property attached by the VO included a three-storied house with three shops in the ground floor along with land measuring 2.5 marlas situated at Poonch.

The VO registered a case in January this year against Mumtaz Hussain Bhat, a junior assistant in DIET, Poonch, after it was established that he was in possession of assets disproportionate to his known source of income.

The VO during the search of his house also found movable property woth Rs one lac.

During the investigation it was found that the official had purchased a piece of land measuring 5 marlas in Mohalla Jamali Poonch in the year 1997 for Rs 55,000 as per the sale deed but actually the prevalent rates at the time of purchase could not have been less then Rs 2 lacs.

He also purchased 2.5 marlas of custodian land at Gandai Kassi Poonch in 2003 and constructed a single story house in Poonch in 1998 which has been estimated to have been costed Rs 7.76 lacs at the relevant time.

The suspect was found to have constructed another three-storied building having three shops in the ground floor at Mohalla Gandai Kassi Poonch in 2004 on custodian land.

The building has been assessed to the value of Rs 17.17 lacs as per the rates prevalent in the year 2004. The suspect was found to have constructed three shops adjacent to his ancestral house in Poonch town which have been estimated to have cost Rs 1.36 lacs as per rates of the relevant time.

Besides the above, the suspect was found to be in possession of a Motro Cycle valued at Rs 20,000 and costly mobile phones valued at Rs 22,000 with a cash balance of Rs 18.716 and LIC premium of Rs 56,992 being paid by the suspect against various insurance policies.

During the course of investigation, it was established that the official is in possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by an amount of Rs 21,22,530.

The VO after seeking approval of Commissioner of Vigilance, as required under law has issued the attachment orders for the three storied building at Poonch belonging to the accused official, which was taken into possession.

UNI