Multicrore BSNL scandal unearthed in Kargil

Srinagar, May 14 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today unearthed a multi-crore Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) communication network scandal in the border district of Kargil.

A Vigilance spokesman said an inquiry has been ordered into the clandestine misuse of BSNL communication network by a private party in Kargil.

Preliminary investigations revealed a criminal conspiracy between BSNL officials, led by Junior Telecom Officer (JTO), Kargil, Shameem Ahmad Bhat, and a private party, headed by Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Shah Anwar Colony in Hyderpora, he added.

The spokesman said the conspiracy has resulted in the loss of crores of rupees to BSNL.

Giving details, he said Bhat had set up a network of call centres with conferencing facility at Kargil for the past two years.

Through the call centres, the customers were able to make calls to several countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Nepal at concessional rates, the spokesman added.

He said the JTO and some other BSNL officials had misused their position and provided local call telephone connections with ISD facility to call centres belonging to Bhat.

These call centres with a large number of hired operators were run round the clock, the spokesman said, adding as a result of which the BSNL had been put to loss of crores of rupees every year.

He said Bhat had several agents in different countries. They used to procure clients, collect call charges and send them to Bhat who shared his illegal earnings with the JTO and other BSNL officials.

A team of Vigilance Organisation, comprising IGP S K Mishra, SSPs Ghulam Hassan Bhat and T Namgial and 24 officers, carried out the raids at five call centres belonging to Bhat in Kargil today.

The team collected incriminating material pertaining to these clandestine call centres. Searches were also carried out at the residences of Bhat in Srinagar and Kargil and that of JTO in Kargil.

UNI