Two J and K officials arrested on corruption charges

Srinagar, Feb 14 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation (VO) has arrested Assistant Accounts Officer and a junior clerk under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the valley.

A VO spokesman said a case was registered under FIR number 8/2007 against Assistant Accounts Officer Mohammad Shaban Sofi, working in the office of Superintending Engineering, Public works Department (PWD), Anantnag, for possession of disproportionate assets.

The assets included three storied residential house, a single - storey concrete house and a two-storied house with four shops in the ground floor on a plot of more than three kanals at Ashajipora, Anantnag.

The official has also purchased a two-storied shopping complex costing over Rs 8 lakh in Chinichowk, Anantnag. He was also found to be in possession of a Maruti Car besides, other movable assets.

The spokesman said this property has been acquired by the accused official by indulging in corrupt practices and are prime facie disproportionate to his known sources of income.

He said VO officials conducted searches in his residential premises during which 220 grams of gold ornaments worth Rs 2 lakh, LIC policies, Bank Shares and Passbooks and other incriminating documents were recovered, He said the accused has been arrested for further questioning.

The VO also caught red-handed one Shri Farooq Ahmad Khan, junior Assistant in Tehsil Office, Handwara while accepting a bribe of Rs 1000, he said.

Giving details about the case, he said one Mohammad Afzal Sheikh reached the organisation yesterday alleging that his appointment case file under SRO-43 is lying with Tehsil Office Handwara for last more than 3 years for verification.

The dealing Assistant of SRO cases namely Farooq Ahmad Khan has taken Rs 7000 and was now demanding Rs 1000 more for finalising his SRO case.

He said a successful trap was laid today during which the accused was caught red handed while accepting the bribe. Bribe money was recovered from the accused,he said.

UNI