ACB charges former ZEO office employee in ₹12.65 lakh Mid-Day Meal scam
JAMMU (KIMS) — The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday produced a charge-sheet against Mohd. Farooq, then Junior Assistant and dealing hand for Mid Day Meal (MDM) in the office of ZEO Manjakote, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of rice and cooking costs under the MDM scheme.
The charge-sheet was produced before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Rajouri in case FIR No. 26/2018, registered under Sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, besides Sections 465, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B RPC.
According to the ACB, the case was registered on December 28, 2018, at Police Station VOJ (now ACB-J), following a verification into allegations of misappropriation of approximately 200 quintals of rice pertaining to the fourth quarter of 2014-15 under the Mid Day Meal scheme in Zone Manjakote.
The allegations had surfaced against then ZEO Manjakote Shah Nawaz Khan and his dealing hand Mohd. Farooq, In-charge Mid Day Meal, allegedly in connivance with Mumtaz Hussain, Storekeeper, Manjakote.
During the investigation, the ACB scrutinised the records obtained in the case and also obtained an opinion from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). The investigation allegedly established that Shah Nawaz Khan, then ZEO Manjakote, and Mohd. Farooq, by abusing their official positions, had prepared fake, forged and fabricated indents and authority letters by manipulating official records.
The investigation further established that 256.40 quintals of rice meant for the MDM scheme was allegedly misappropriated. The rice was valued at approximately ₹8.03 lakh, while an additional amount of ₹4.61 lakh towards cooking costs was also allegedly misappropriated.
The alleged acts resulted in a total loss of ₹12.65 lakh to the state exchequer, the ACB said.
The then ZEO, Shah Nawaz Khan, died during the pendency of the case and therefore prosecution could not be launched against him. Subsequently, the required sanction for prosecution of the serving accused, Mohd. Farooq, was obtained from the competent authority.
Following completion of the investigation, the ACB presented the charge-sheet against Farooq before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court, Rajouri, on Monday for judicial determination.
The next date of hearing has been fixed for September 29, 2026. — (KIMS)
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