ACB registers FIR against 14 in ₹5.57 crore food grains embezzlement case in Kupwara
SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday said it has registered an FIR against five officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department and nine Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement and misappropriation of government food grains in Karnah area of Kupwara district.
According to an ACB statement, FIR No. 02/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla under Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended), and Sections 61(2) and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, after obtaining prior approval from the competent authority.
The case stems from a communication received from the Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Kashmir, seeking criminal action against the officials and FPS dealers after departmental inspections and physical verification allegedly revealed massive shortages of government food grains.
The statement said a joint surprise check at government sale centres and Fair Price Shops initially detected a shortage of 4,175.89 quintals of rice at Lountha Granary in Karnah.
Subsequent physical verification by a departmental sub-committee and detailed verification by the ACB allegedly uncovered substantial shortages at various sale centres and Fair Price Shops falling under Tangdhar, Karnah-A and Karnah-B circles of Kupwara district.
According to the ACB, the alleged misappropriation caused a loss of ₹5,57,18,657.25 to the government exchequer through a criminal conspiracy involving public servants and private beneficiaries who dishonestly misappropriated government food grains entrusted to them for unlawful pecuniary gain.
The ACB said the FIR has been registered against five FCS&CA officials and nine FPS dealers. Among those named are Umar Bashir alias Raja Umer, then Assistant Storekeeper, and Ashiq Hussain Mir, then Assistant Storekeeper, along with 12 other accused comprising public servants and Fair Price Shop dealers.
Immediately after registration of the case, searches were launched at multiple locations and other legal proceedings were initiated in accordance with law, the statement said.
Further investigation is underway. — (KIMS)
