Forest official booked for disproportionate assets in J

Srinagar, Dec 21 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today registered a case against a Forest Range Officer for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A vigilance spokesman said searches were being conducted at forest range officer Mohinder Lal's two premises at Qasba Bala in Nowshera area and Morha Sair, Bhawani in Rajouri district.

Lal is at present working in the Integrated Watershed Development Project (IWDP) Devak, Thanda Pani, Sunderbani, Rajouri.

The spokesman said enquiries into the assets of Lal revealed that he had constructed two houses at Morha Sair, Bhawani and Qasba Bala, Nowshera, and owned many shops in Nowshera town of Rajouri district.

Lal had also purchased a number of plots of land at Nowshera and owns several vehicles, including, a passenger bus, two tippers, a Wagon-R and a motor cycle, he added.

The spokesman said the value of the property of the accused official has been estimated to be more than Rs 75 lakh, which is quite disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Most of these movable and immovable assets have been acquired by Lal through corrupt and illegal means and by misuse of his official position during his period of posting as Forester in Nowshera and Sunderbani areas, he added.

The searches of his houses located at Qasba Bala, Nowshera, and Morha Sair, Bhawani, have so far led to the seizure of incriminating documents, bank accounts and papers relating to ownership of movable and immovable property, the spokesman said.

He said searches were in progress when reports last came in. A case has been registered against the accused official.

UNI AG VD DS1636