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Srinagar, July 26 (UNI) Coming hard on the corrupt officials in the valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government, under the amended prevention of corruption act, 2006, has ordered the attachment of four such tainted properties.

Since the enactment of the legislation the SVO has so far attached tainted properties of four Jammu and Kashmir government officials who include an Executive Engineer, a Revenue official, a Chief Inspector of CA&PD and former Joint Commissioner of Jammu Municipality.

As per the initiative, the government has confirmed the attachment order of the Commercial Complex of Kiran Wattal, a former Joint Commissioner Works Jammu Municipal Corporation said.

The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has attached the property of Watal after a case FIR No.19/2005 P/S was filed in the organisation.

A spokesman of the VO said the Designated Authority, Commissioner Secretary , General Administration Department, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, on 24.7.2006 at Civil Secretariat Srinagar scrutinised the material evidence collected during the investigation of the case, and gave a hearing to the accused officer.

The designated authority having satisfied himself with the evidence collected by the Investigating Officer and having heard the accused, confirmed the attachment order of the tainted property acquired by the accused through corrupt means.

The confirmation order was issued on 25.7.2006 in terms of Sec 8b (3) of amended prevention of corruption act 2006, he said today.

He said section 8(b) of amended Act provides that the Investigating Officer of State Vigilance Organisation shall take prior approval of Commissioner of Vigilance for attachment of any property, under the act and shall inform the designated authority within 48 hours of such attachment.

The designated authority confirms or revoke the attachment order, after giving an opportunity to the person whose property is being attached, to give his defence.

All the attachment orders have been confirmed by the designated authority.

UNI BAS YSS SB PC1931