EOW files chargesheet in Budgam municipal fraud case

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in a case involving allegations of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and abuse of official position.

In a statement, the EOW said the chargesheet has been filed under Sections 420, 468 and 120-B of the RPC, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, against three accused — Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, former president of the Municipal Committee Budgam, and Ghulam Mohammad Mir and Abdul Majid Bhat.

According to officials, the case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale embezzlement and the illegal allotment of a government-owned municipal building belonging to the Municipal Committee Budgam.

“During the investigation, it emerged that the then president of MC Budgam misused and abused his official position to confer undue and wrongful benefits upon accused Ghulam Mohammad Mir,” the agency said. “The allotment order, purportedly issued on the basis of a Municipal Committee resolution and approval from the Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, was found to be forged and non-existent.”

The investigation further established that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and prepared fake documents, including a forged allotment order, without any lawful authority or approval.

“All three accused were examined during the course of the investigation and admitted their role in the execution of the partnership deed, dissolution deed and issuance of the fake allotment order,” the statement said.

Based on the oral and documentary evidence collected during the probe, the EOW said the offences stand established against all three accused. The former president of MC Budgam has also been charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for abuse of official position.