SVO indicts 2 serving, 4 ex-officials in decade-old forgery case

Jammu and Kashmir vigilance bureau Wednesday indicted four former and two serving officials of a government-run joinery mill allegedly for usurping over Rs one lakh 13 years ago against fake bills for purchases and repair works for the mill.

The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) indicted the officials in its chargesheet, submitted to the Jammu's special anti-graft court.

The case was registered in 2008, said an SVO spokesperson, adding four of the officials retired during the probe into the case.

He said during a surprise check of the mill's office, the vigilance sleuths had seized several bills and vouchers which turned out to fake and fictitious as on enquiry from the firms which purportedly issued them, it was found they were never issued.

Following preliminary verification that the vouchers were fake and forged, the SVO registered a criminal case under various sections, including those of cheating and forgery, of the Ranbir Penal Code.

During the investigation, it was established that fake bills worth Rs 1,01,281 were cleared by the mill officials and the public exchequer was defrauded of the corresponding sum, the spokesperson said.

After completion of the probe, the SVO spokesperson said, the vigilance bureau submitted its findings to the court in its charge-sheet, seeking trial of erstwhile Assistant Manager Ashok Gupta and Supervisor Rattan Lal.

The retired officials, who were indicted in then charge sheet included the mill's purchase and procurement in charge Suraj Mani, supervisors B R Atri and Baldev Raj, and operator Keshav Singh.