Kupwara rural development scam: ACB chargesheets 7 officials, contractor for fund embezzlement

Officers of the Rural Development Department (RDD), in connivance with some private contractors, embezzled government funds worth crores of rupees in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Kupwara.

Payments amounting to lakhs of rupees were released for several Rural Development Department projects that existed only on paper or were executed by violating existing norms of the department.

After conducting a thorough investigation and collecting substantial evidence, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has filed a charge-sheet against seven accused, including former Rural Development Department officials and a beneficiary contractor, in connection with the alleged embezzlement of government funds worth several lakhs of rupees meant for developmental works in the Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

A spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption Bureau said that the charge-sheet was presented before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla. The case pertains to allegations of corruption, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and misappropriation of public funds during the execution of development projects in Block Lolab of Kupwara district.

The case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale irregularities in developmental works executed through the Rural Development Department. Subsequent verification by the Anti-Corruption Bureau uncovered serious violations in works, including the “Construction of Sarband at Margi Diver (Kariwan) Phase-I” and the “Construction of Fisheries Pond at Diver-B”.

During the investigation by the ACB teams, it was established that false measurements of the completed works were conducted. The investigation also revealed billing for non-existent works, execution of projects on forest land without mandatory permissions, and the release of payments despite deficient and substandard execution. Based on these findings, the ACB registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation.

The probe further established that the accused officers of the Rural Development Department, in alleged connivance with the beneficiary contractor, abused their official positions to facilitate the fraudulent execution of works, prepare false records, inflate measurements, and authorise the illegal release of government funds.

The investigation also found that fictitious entries relating to the felling of trees were incorporated into official records to inflate bills and secure undue financial gains.

Following the receipt of prosecution sanction from the competent authority, the ACB charge-sheeted Mohammad Sultan Bhat, then Block Development Officer (BDO), Sogam-Lalpora; Surinder Kumar Sharma, then Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing (REW), Kupwara Division; Mohammad Shafi Bukhari, then Assistant Executive Engineer, REW Kupwara; Taimur Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Nisar Ahmad Khan, then Junior Engineer, REW Lalpora; Mohammad Saleem Dar, then Village Level Worker and Panchayat Secretary; and Waseem Mehmood Khan, beneficiary contractor.

All the accused were produced before the court and were admitted to bail after furnishing personal bonds to the satisfaction of the court.

The accused have been charge-sheeted under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, including Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d), and 5(2), along with other relevant provisions of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

The court has fixed August 25, 2026, as the next date of hearing in the case.

Meanwhile, the ACB reiterated its commitment to conducting fair, impartial, and time-bound investigations into corruption cases and ensuring accountability for the misuse of public resources in accordance with the law.