SVO books 6 govt officials for causing loss to exchequer

Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today registered a case against six government officials including a former deputy commissioner for purchasing substandard material and causing a loss of over Rs 15 lakh to the state exchequer in Kupwara district.
The case was filed after a verification conducted by the SVO into the allegations of purchase of substandard matting and other furnishing items on highly exorbitant rates during the year 2013-14 in Kupwara district.
The case has been registered against the District Level Purchasing Committee (DLPC) Kupwara headed by the then District Development Commissioner Itrat Hussain (chairman DLPC), a spokesman of the SVO said.

He said other members of the committee include Mohammad Qasim the then District Program Officer ICDS (member secretary), Ghulam Nabi Bhat, the then Treasury Officer, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, the then incharge Assistant Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Dr Aleem, the then Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Ali Mohammad Mir, General Manager District Industries Centre(DIC).
The DLPC approved the purchase of different quality of matting as against the advertised excel matting, the spokesman said.
He said it has been found that the chairman and other members of the DLPC Kupwara, in league with each others and the supplier namely Khurshid Ahmad Malik, a resident of Vilgam Handwara area of the district, have effected purchases of matting (non-woven) measuring 30,22,63 square feet at the rate of Rs 17 per square feet from the said supplier for Anganwari Centres of the district on exorbitant rates thereby conferring pecuniary benefits to them and the supplier to the tune of Rs 15,11,315 and corresponding loss to the state exchequer.

The afore mentioned omissions and commissions on the part of the above mentioned officers and the supplier constitute offences punishable under J&K P.C.Act, the spokesman said.
He said accordingly a case has been registered.