ACB detects multi-crore scam in Saubhagya Scheme implementation
Jammu and Kashmir in multi-crore scam in implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Saubhagya’, which was meant for electrification of all uncovered rural areas. Though there was no official word on the raids carried out by the ACB sleuths, reliable sources told the Excelsior that searches were conducted in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts of Kashmir and Jammu, Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu region at houses of the erstwhile Power Development Department (PDD) officers involved in implementation of Saubhagya Scheme of the Central Government. They said raids were carried out after two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered at Srinagar and Jammu police stations of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in misappropriation of funds running into several crores in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme Saubhagya. In Jammu region, houses of four officers were searched. They included Project Officer Manhar Gupta of Sainik Colony, Jammu, Superintending Engineer Umesh Parihar of Channi Himmat, Superintending Engineer Circle Doda Asgar Hussain of Kishtwar and Superintending Engineer Krishan Kumar of Jammu. Houses of the then Power Development Department officers involved in the scam were also searches in Srinagar City, another locality of Srinagar district and Ganderbal, sources said. Some documents pertaining to scam and investments of the officers have been recovered during the searches. According to sources, the Central Government had released around Rs 900 crore for Jammu and Kashmir for electrification of all un-electrified villages in the erstwhile State under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Saubhagya. Preliminary inquiries conducted by the ACB revealed misappropriation of several crores in implementation of the scam. After preliminary enquiries, the Bureau registered FIRs in the case and conducted searches at residences of the officers. However, no arrests have been made so far. Further investigations in the case were on, sources said, adding the officers involved in misappropriation of funds will be called for questioning.
