4 J&K edu officials booked for embezzling funds

Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today registered a case against four officials of the Education Department for embezzlement of government funds to the tune of over Rs 70 lakh in Budgam district.
An SVO spokesman said the case has been registered against Meharj-ud-din Shawal, then Zonal Education Planning Officer (ZEPO) Dangerpora, Zahoor Ahmad Peer, then Headmaster Middle School Yamberzalwari, and then Zonal Education Officers Bashir Ahmad Mir and Mohammad Shafi, after verification into the allegations of embezzlement of government funds.
The inquiry revealed that the suspects by way of abuse of their official position and for pecuniary advantage, hatched a criminal conspiracy with each other and have withdrawn an amount of Rs 79,86,243 from time to time on account of execution of civil works in Government Middle School Yamberzalwari during the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Out of the total amount of Rs 79,86243, an amount of Rs 70,91,414 has been drawn dishonestly and fraudulently by the suspects, thereby causing corresponding loss to the state exchequer, the spokesman said.
He said the omission and commissions on the part of public servants constitutes offence punishable under Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 and accordingly the case has been registered and further investigation taken up.