J and K Vigilance Organisation challans 8 officials

Srinagar, Feb 22 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation has challaned eight officials of the Revenue, education and Horticulture departments and a beneficiary in a fraud case, a Vigilance spoksman said.

He said the challan was produced in the court of special Judge Anti-Corruption (Kashmir) against the accused officials and one beneficiary.

The spokesman said the case pertains to acquisition of land for construction of Khan Sahab Shinypora road during the period 1989 to 1992.

The accused have prepared fictitious revenue records showing land measuring 23 kanals 19 marlas to have been acquired by the Government against only 5 kanals 15 marals of proprietary land actually acquired.

The accused Horticulture officers Mohammad Amin Wadoo, Mohammad Maqbool and Ghulam Hassan Joo have fraudulently certified the non-existing fruit bearing trees in the acquired land and recommended compensation.

This has caused a loss to the tune of Rs.12,8 lakh to the state exchequer.

The other officials accused in the case are -- Gulzar Ahmed Bhat then Assistant Commissioner Land Acquisition Srinagar (now retired), Abdul Gani Sofi, a Girdawar, Abdul Qadir Shah, a teacher in Higher Secondary School Khan Sahab Budgam, Mohammad Yousuf Shah, a teacher in Education Department, Mohammad Yousf Shah alias Akash then Class-iv employee Horticulture Department Budgam and Abdul Aziz Bhat the beneficiary.

The next date of hearing has been fixed to April 8.

UNI BAS YA DB1232