ACB rebuts claims of punitive transfers for exposing corruption

The Jammu and Kashmir ACB has called “misleading and factually incorrect” allegations that the recent transfer of some agency officers was a punitive action for exposing corruption.

In a statement, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) rebutted the allegations of punitive action levelled against it from certain quarters, including former chief minister of the erstwhile state Mehbooba Mufti.

“This is in response to the recent claims suggesting that the recent transfer of personnel from the ACB was a punitive action for exposing corruption. These claims are entirely misleading and factually incorrect,” the anti-graft agency said.

Transfer is a normal administrative procedure and an incidence of service, and the government remains committed to ensuring that efforts against corruption continue without disruption, it said.

“One of the officers transferred recently from the ACB had served in the organisation for more than six years, far exceeding the usual tenure for officers in such postings, while the other two also completed tenures of three years,” it added.

The agency said these transfers were long overdue and in line with standard rotational policies followed across government departments.

The claim that these officers were removed for challenging corruption is baseless. The process of personnel rotation in the ACB was initiated in 2023 but, due to certain administrative exigencies, got delayed, it said.

The ACB said none of the transferred officers were associated with the investigation or supervision of investigation of any FIRs recently registered.

The agency remains fully operational and continues its mandate of investigating corruption cases without bias or external influence, it said.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba on Friday alleged that the transfer of officers investigating a corruption case raised questions about the government’s commitment to justice and accountability.