Jammu: Mining official chargesheeted for embezzlement

Jammu, February 19

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The Crime Branch, Jammu, has filed a chargesheet against a drilling engineer, then functioning as Drawing & Disbursing Officer of the Geology and Mining Department, for criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of Rs 33 lakh GPF along with 7th Pay Commission arrears of employees.

The accused, Aijaz Mir, is under suspension. The challan of the case has been produced in the court of law for judicial determination by investigating officer (Inspector) Taranjeet Singh under the supervision of Jammu SSP (Crime) Benam Tosh.

Shiban Lal Bhat, who happened to be the then drill operator, grade-2, of the department, had complained to the then Director of the Geology & Mining Department, Jammu, that his sanctioned GPF had been released as per a message he received from the GP Fund office, but he was not the actual receiver. After enquiring from the treasury, he came to know that his GPF was credited in DDO’s account.

Upon this, the then director constituted a high-level committee which unearthed the embezzlement to the tune of Rs 33,03,447 pertaining to the GPF and 7th Pay Commission arrears of several employees. The then DDO and a cashier, now deceased, were blamed for the fraud. The official said the report of the inquiry committee, along with relevant documents, was submitted by the then Director to the then Deputy Secretary to the Government, who forwarded the same to the Crime Branch, Jammu, for action under law.