Property of senior engineer attached in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 9 (UNI) In a first ever case in Jammu and Kashmir, the state vigilance organisation (SVO) today attached the property of an official who had allegdly amassed disproportionate assets worth crores of rupees, an official spokesman said.

The move is seen as the first success in the war against corruption launched by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad soon after assuming the post on November two last year.

He said the state Vigilance Organisation ordered the attachment of two plots of land situated at Bemina near here acquired by Mohammad Ramzan Nadaf, then Executive Engineer, Housing Board, Srinagar Unit first.

The attached property was purchased by the accused official in 2005 at a cost of Rs 18 lakh in the name of his two children who had no independent sources of income, the spokesman said.

He said money for purchasing the two plots of land had been transferred from Nadaf's personal account and the attorney for the property was obtained in the name of his two children.

An amendment in the Prevention of Corruption Act was recently passed by the State Assembly, providing for the attachment of the property obtained by public servants through illegal ways and means.

The attachment was ordered in terms of powers vested with Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Organisation, Kashmir under section 8(b) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2006.

The SVO had conducted searches in the residential house of Nadaf following the registration of a case in July last year.

During the searches, bank accounts, FDRs and LIC policies worth Rs one crore were seized in addition to gold and cash, documents of movable and immovable property. The case is under investigation.

The spokesman said the parties concerned which have interest in the property have been informed of its attachment.

UNI AG MSJ BD1902