J&K Vigilance arrests four officials for fraud

Srinagar, Jan 4 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today arrested four government officials for causing a loss of more than Rs 10 lakh to the state exchequer during 2004-05.

A vigilance spokesman said sub-standard trusses were supplied for construction of 18 school buildings by Rural Development Department in Anantnag district, thereby causing a loss of more than Rs 10 lakh to the state exchequer during 2004-05.

Two Block Development Officers (BDOs), an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Rural Engineering Wing and a SICOP District Manager have been arrested in this connection, he added.

During investigations, the spokesman said it was revealed that BDOs of Qazigund, Dachinpora, Pahloo, Qaimoh, Khowripora and Kulgam paid Rs 38.43 lakh to SICOP District Manager, Anantnag for providing and fixing steel trusses for 18 school buildings during 2004-05. The SICOP authorities had given the job to Gousia Steel Industries.

It was further revealed that Rural Development officials and the SICOP District Manager in a conspiracy with the supplier prepared factually incorrect certificates for release of payment against sub-standard, under-specification and under-weight steel trusses.

As per guidelines, the weight of each truss was fixed at 3160 kg but on verification it was found to be 1719-2364 kg only. Most of the trusses were found to weight around 1800 kg only.

The inquiry further found that full payment of Rs 2.17 lakh had been released on account of steel trusses for school buildings of Homshalibugh when these were yet to be constructed.

He said the payment was released by Rural Development Department officials without satisfying the quality, quantity and specification of the material used. An excess payment Rs 10.93 lakh was made to the supplier on the basis of factually incorrect certificates prepared by the accused officials.

The spokesman said a case was registered and former SICOP District Manager Anantnag, two BDOs and one AEE were arrested for further questioning.

UNI