GDC Principal in multi crore purchases

Court orders Vigilance probe against GDC Principal

Special choose Anti-Corruption Kashmir, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, has directed State Vigilance Organization (SVO) Kashmir wing to initiate investigations against Dr. Riyaz Farooq, Principal Government Dental faculty, Srinagar in multi-crore purchase scandal that surfaced within the GDC last month.

Taking cognizance of a grievance lodged by one Tanveer Hussain Khan through his counsel Shahid Ahmad Ronga, the Special choose Anti-Corruption Kashmir in his order directed Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance to require up the investigation of the case concerning multi-crore purchase scandal at Government Dental faculty, Srinagar.

"Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Organization Kashmir is directed to require up the investigation of the case in terms of Section 156 (3) Criminal Procedure Code and intimate this court concerning the ultimate outcome of the investigation. Senior Superintendent of Police is additional directed that whereas conducting the investigation he shall offer audience to each the parties as mandated by the law and thereafter conclude the investigation of the case on deserves," wrote the choose in his order.

The complainant filed the grievance underneath Section 156 (3) of Criminal Procedure Code and prayed for the directions to the State Vigilance Organization to register an FIR against the accused Dr. Riyaz Farooq, Principal GDC-Srinagar. The complainant, who recorded his statement before the choose additionally prayed for initiation of the action as per law against the accused.

It is in place to say here that underneath Section 156 any officer accountable of a police station could, while not the order of a Magistrate, investigate any cognizable case that a court having jurisdiction over the native space at intervals the boundaries of such station which might have power to investigate the matter.

Amarnath pilgrims will now need to carry medical certificate

Under this section no continuing of a police officer in any such case shall at any stage be known as into question on the bottom that the case was one, that such officer wasn't empowered underneath this section to analyze.

It may be recalled here that the GDC authorities have purchased medical equipment value crores of rupees at higher rates than quoted by the corporate from that they purchased it. curiously, the rates quoted for the equipment by this company were terribly less as compared with the rates truly paid by the GDC authorities, each at Srinagar and Jammu.

The revelations concerning the scandal came to the fore when the Medical Superintendent, (Public data Officer) GDC saw the correct to data (RTI) application moved by Tanveer Hussain Khan. 

In his reply, the PIO said that GDC, Srinagar purchased digital panoramic X-ray machine model and build of ORTHOPOS XG five DS CEPH-Single Sensor (AERB approved) Rs. 46, 80, 000 lakh. The machine was equipped to the GDC, Srinagar by VILLA India, New Delhi.

The RTI applicant compared the rates paid by the GDC authorities with the one being offered by constant company. He found a distinction of Rs. 26, 00, 000 lakh between the particular purchases created and also the rates offered. 

The PIO in his reply said that the GDC, Srinagar purchased eight complete vertical rack sterilization systems from VILLA India, New Delhi from time to time. The distinction between the particular value and also the quantity paid was around Rs. 50, 00, 000 for eight systems.

PIL against land grabbing

Div Com submits recent report

In the a lot of publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting land grabbing at the behest of high-ups and in league with land mafia, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar nowadays granted 2 weeks time to the petitioner to reply to the recent standing report filed by the Divisional Commissioner in response to earlier order of the Court.

The two weeks time was granted once Advocates Virender Bhat and Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed showing for the PIL filed by Prof S K Bhalla submitted that they need received the copy of the recent standing report filed by the Divisional Commissioner this morning.

According to the standing report, Satish Kumar, son of Madan Lal had applied for forty one kanals of State land falling below Khasra No. 424 min in village Lalyal for grant of possession rights below J&K State Lands (Vesting of possession to the Occupants) Act 2001 popularly called Roshini theme however a similar has been rejected by the authorities.

The girdawari entries over State land measuring fifty kanals falling below Khasra No one (25 kanals) and Khasra No 127/1 Min (25 kanals) situated in village Suray Chak, that was within the name of 1 Vijay Kumar alias Babbi, are expunged, the report said.

According to the report, Yaseer Nifar Wattali, son of Ahmed Shah Wattali has twenty nine kanal and ten marla of land in Khasra Nos 2438 and 2440 at Amb and whole land has been sold by the seller. Similarly, Jahwas Ahmad Wattali, son of Haji Ghulam Nabi Shah Watali has land in Khasra No 2442 & 2449 measuring forty nine kanal and ten marlas situated at Amb and also the whole of the land has been sold by the seller.

Sasba Begum, wife of Jahwas Ahmed Shah Watali has land in Khasra Nos 2442 & 2449 measuring twenty kanal at Amb. Jawas Jahoos Shah Wattali, son of Jahwas Shah Wattali has land in Khasra Nos 2442 & 2449 measuring thirty kanal and ten marla at Amb and also the whole of the land has been sold by the seller. Zanib Shamas Wattali, wife of Shokat Wattali has land in Khasra No 5291 measuring nine kanal and a pair of marla at Bhalwal and owner is in possession.

The report said that Madan Lal Sharma, son of Gushu Ram has fifteen marlas of land every at Paloura and Muthi. he's additionally in possession of ancestral land acquired through sale deeds and measuring nine kanal and a pair of marla and eighty kanal and a pair of marla at Plattan, Pallanwala.

Sham Lal Sharma, brother of Madan Lal Sharma is owner in possession of measuring eight marlas of land at Paloura below Khasra No 152 Min. he's additionally owner in possession of thirty three kanal of land at Kot below Khasra Nos, 956, 957, 958, 960, 961, 1240 and 1230. he's additionally stated to possess acquired the ancestral land through sale deeds measuring 104 and twenty four kanal and eighteen marla at Plattan, Pallanwala however Khasra numbers aren't mentioned. he's additionally in possession of land measuring five kanal and fifteen marla at Muthi and out of this land one kanal and eight.5 marla has been sold by the seller.

According to the recent standing report, Ankush Sharma, son of Sham Lal Sharma is owner in possession of land measuring ten kanal below Khasra Nos 956 and 1240 at Kot. he's additionally having land measuring one kanal at Muthi and seven marla has been sold by the seller.

The report said that land measuring seven kanal and seven marla situated at Manda, Akhnoor belonging to Sanjay Sharma alias Sanju, who has been declared as proclaimed offender, has been connected by the order of Principal Sessions choose, Jammu.

Land Scam in Kashmir

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

Fake job racket busted

Police today busted a racket engaged in making fake appointment orders in Northern Railways, National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and other Central Government Departments by cheating the unemployed youths and charging Rs 3 lakh from them including Rs 90,000 advance.

Police said one of the accused has been arrested by Bishnah police while two others were absconding. A large number of fake appointment letters on the name of unemployed youth of different parts of Jammu were recovered from the arrested accused.

Mukesh Kumar son of Karan Kumar R/o Kandoli, Nagrota has been arrested by police while Pushpinder Singh Manhas of Krishna Nagar and Som Raj of Ghagwal were absconding.

Police said the accused had been issuing fake appointment letters to unemployed youth in Northern Railways, NHPC and other departments. They had been charging Rs 3 lakh for the appointments including Rs 90,000 in advance from the youth.

On a tip off from some youth, police today arrested Mukesh Kumar. A search was on for two absconders. A number of fake appointment letters seized from the accused were being examined. A case against the accused has been registered at Bishnah police station.

Police parties, which made the arrests, were headed by SHO Bishnah Jaipal Sharma under the supervision of SSP Jammu Prabhat Singh, SP Headquarters Shailender Singh and SDPO RS Pura SS Samyal.

Sanskrit Vidyarthi Parishad strike continues

Gandhian Studies Centre of MAM College organises workshop

Jobs made pensionable illegally

Several Government departments in the state have converted non-pensionable jobs into pensionable for select group of employees by violating the Government orders under which all the Government jobs in the State from 2010 are non-pensionable.

The State Government abolished the pensionable jobs from January 2010 and as per government order any appointment made from 01-01-2010 in any of the Government departments is non-pensionable.

The Finance department of the State issued an order (No. A/36/83-II\128 dated 31-01-2011) under which it was said that the New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (NPS) will be applicable from 01-01-2010.

Under NPS, the Government employees are not covered under GP Fund Scheme and have to make subscription of 10 percent of their basic pay towards their PRAN number and Government makes equal contribution towards their account.

However, as per the circular (No. A/36/83-II/28 dated 31-01-2011) issued by the Finance Department those Government employees who were already working in the Government sector and were appointed in any other Government department or the same department after 01-01-2010 but have applied for the new job through proper channel are covered under old pensionable scheme.

The circular further said that in case of any violation to the circular by drawing and disbursing officers to the NPS, amount sanctioned unauthorizedly under old pensionable scheme will be recovered from authority that sanctioned it.

Majority of the DDOs in the Technical Education who were appointed after January 2010 are implementing the Old Pension Scheme for themselves in violation of the Government order.

The Government (vide order No. 92 Edu (Tech) of 2010 dated 14-05-2010) appointed 17 Superintendents for the various ITIs in the State after their selection by Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. As these Government employees were appointed in May 2010 they are not covered under Old Pensionable Scheme and can't make any contribution towards GP Fund.

Majority of these Superintendents who are working as DDOs are not implementing the Government order regarding NPS for themselves. They are unauthorizedly drawing their salaries from the General Revenue of the State under Defined Pension Scheme and make their contributions toward their GP Fund instead of PRAN.

According to reports, none of these Superintendents were working in any of the Government departments at the time of the advertisement of these posts and none of them have applied through proper channel for the selection to these posts.

Those officers violating the Finance department's code regarding NPS include Imran Wajahat Hussain, Superintendent ITI Pattan, Ajaz Majid Kakroo, Superintendent ITI Sopore, Showkat Ahmad Superintendent ITI Handwara.

Moderate rains in Valley

Farooq takes over as Secy School Education

CBI raids in Tatra trucks deal

The CBI today searched the premises of two retired Army officers and questioned BEML Chairman VRS Natarajan for nearly six hours in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the procurement and supply of Tatra all-terrain vehicles to the Army.

Teams of CBI officials carried out searches at the residence of retired Brigadier P C Das at Vasant Kunj in south Delhi and retired Colonel Anil Dutta at Noida, CBI sources said.

Later, Das was grilled by sleuths at the CBI headquarters in connection with the case.

Residential premises of Vectra executive Anil Mansaramani at Noida were also searched by the agency, they said.

CBI suspects that post-retirement, Das and Dutta allegedly used to liaison for Vectra in the Army and were in touch with Mansaramani although sources clarified that there was nothing against the officers during their service.

Vectra, which has controlling stake in Tatra Sipox UK has come under CBI scanner over alleged irregularities in the supply of all terrain vehicle components to the public sector BEML which assembles and supplies these vehicles to the Army.

Meanwhile, the CBI today continued with the questioning of BEML Chairman Natarajan for the second consecutive day and quizzed him for nearly six hours at the agency Headquarters. Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi was also questioned for the ninth time today, they said.

After getting inputs from the duo, the agency found it necessary to search the residences of the retired Army officials and the Vectra employee to gather some crucial documents, which could help the agency in the case, they said.

Natarajan and Rishi have refuted the allegations of any wrong doing.

The agency has registered a case naming Rishi and unnamed officials of the Defence Ministry, Army and BEML on March 30 for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and also under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning of supply from Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as an original equipment manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of Czech company, which was against the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure, the sources said.

"In continuation of the aforesaid conspiracy to cause undue benefit to the UK-based company, the unknown officials of the Defence PSU allowed change of currency from US Dollar to Euro and further by not levying the liquidated damages, thereby causing further loss of Rs 13.27 crores," the CBI spokesperon had said.

Rishi had termed the allegations against him as unfortunate, saying the trucks were sold through public sector undertaking BEML.

He also said the charges levelled with regard to Tatra trucks by Army Chief Gen V K Singh that they were "sub-standard" and that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear the deal of 600 such trucks were baseless.

Natarajan has also refuted the alleged involvement of agents and lobbyists in placement of orders for the Tatra all-terrain trucks.

"In the last 26 years, from 1986 onwards BEML assembled manufactured, supplied 7,000 Tatra trucks. All of them have been done on single nomination basis, single inquiry basis".

"This type of equipment no body in world makes, because of its superior technological features. When I am the single vendor and there is no competition, there is no influence required," he had said.

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Pay Comm scam established

The Deputy Director Technical Education Kashmir today established the violation of the financial code with regard to the sixth Pay Commission arrears by majority of the Drawing and Disbursing Officers of the department.

The Commissioner Secretary Technical Education, Vinod Kaul, today ordered probe into the Sixth Pay Commission arrears scam that was reported by Jk News today. He has asked the Deputy Director Technical Education Kashmir, Munir Ahmad Shah, to conduct the preliminary inquiry into the scam within a day.

The Deputy Director has reportedly submitted its report to the Commissioner Secretary Technical Education Department this evening where he has confirmed that the Drawing and Disbursing Officers have violated the financial code and demanded special audit of the financial fraud.

Deputy Director Munir Ahmad Shah told Jk News that majority of the Drawing and Disbursing Officers of the department have released the Sixth Pay Commission arrears in favour of the non-deserving employees and paid amount in cash to them. 

Shah said that not only the arrear scam has been established; the fixation in favour of the adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees of the department has also been made in violation of the Government order.

Meanwhile soon after the scam was reported in the newspaper, the Drawing and Disbursing Officers of the ITIs of Pattan, Srinagar and Bandipora were negotiating the remittance of the amount to the respective treasuries to save their skin. 

In the meantime, the District Treasury Officer Ganderbal, Syed Farooq Ahmad, told Jk News he has not passed any of the arrears bills of any adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees of any department.

Ahmad said that ITI Ganderbal had submitted bills of both the regular and adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees of the department together but "we refused to pass them". He said that they later submitted separate arrear bills of the regular employees that were passed.

The Deputy Director, Munir Ahmad Shah, confirmed that the Treasury Officer Ganderbal has not passed the arrear bills of the adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees of the ITI Ganderbal. 

In Jammu division several Drawing and Disbursing Officers of ITIs including Deputy Director Jammu, N K Gupta, have released the sixth Pay Commission arrears bills of adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees of the department.

In the meantime, sources said that the Department of the Technical Education is illegally paying the higher pay scale of Rs 6500-10500 (pre-revised) with effect from 2003 against the sanctioned scale of Rs 4000-6000 to adhoc vocational instructors of all the institutes of ITI sector in the State.

It has been reliably learnt that it is not the Technical Education department only but also Health, PDD and almost all Government departments where DDO's in league with the treasury officers have released arrears of the sixth Pay Commission to the non-deserving adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees. 

The Health department has reportedly released highest amount in cash to its adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees as sixth Pay Commission arrears. According to sources Block Medical Officer (BMO) Ganderbal was pursuing the District Treasury Officer Ganderbal to release two bills worth Rs 4,48,563 and Rs 9,29,043 of these non-deserving employees but the Treasury officer has refused to pass them.

It may be mentioned here according to the Government order (No. 238-F of 2011 dated 30-09-2011) the sixth Pay Commission arrears are to be paid to the regular State Government employees in 5 equal installments in 5 years by debit to their GP Fund. 

The arrears are paid in cash to those employees who have retired upto 30-09-2011. The adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees are not entitled to these arrears but crores of rupees has been released in cash to them.

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

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Sixth Pay Commission arrears scam

Crores of rupees paid to undeserving employees

 In violation of the financial code with regard to the sixth Pay Commission arrears, several Government departments have released crores of rupees arrears for the adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees.

According to the Government order (No. 238-F of 2011 dated 30-09-2011), the sixth Pay Commission arrears were to be paid to the State Government employees in 5 equal installments in 5 years.

These arrears are being credited to the GP Fund of the employees and have no lock up period. However, for those employees who have retired upto 30-09-2011, the arrears will be paid in cash in 5 equal installments. In case of a death of a Government employee, his family is entitled to the cash payment of the arrears, as per the Government order.

According to the Government order, adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees were not entitled to these arrears but several departments including Technical Education, Health and Power Development Department (PDD) have released arrears in the favour of the employees in gross violation of financial code with regard to the sixth Pay Commission.

The first installments of arrears have been released to these employees in cash by the drawing and disbursing officers of these departments in league with concerned treasury officers. Sources said that the amount in cash was shared by the employees and drawing and disbursing officers of these departments' and treasury officers on 50-50 basis.

The treasuries passed these bills in the last week of the financial year and since these employees are not regular so it was paid in cash to them while it was credited to the GP Fund of the regular employees.

According to reports DDO's of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) of the department of Technical Education of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pattan, Pulwama, Rohama, Kupwara and Bandipora have paid arrears to their adhoc, consolidated and contractual employees.

The ITI Anantnag, Baramulla and Seer Hamadhan too have submitted the arrears' bills to the respective treasuries but the treasury officers have refused to release the money with the remarks that these employees were not regular and not entitled to the arrears.

The ITI Bemina and Shopian neither submitted their arrears' bills nor have paid the arrears to these employees and have told such employees working there that they were not entitled to arrears. A group of employees told Jk News that this is double standard on part of the department as some of the employees have been paid arrears in cash while others have been denied the arrears.

When contacted, Mohammad Asharaf Zargar, Accounts Officer Finance Department posted in Technical Education, told Jk News that as per the rules these employees are not entitled to the arrears. "It has not come to our notice", he added.

The other departments who have paid arrears to their employees are Health and PDD. This has also been done by the drawing and disbursing officers of these departments in league with the treasury officers.

One of the employee leaders while commenting on payment of arrears to the non-deserving employees in cash said that on one hand the Government is saying it is facing financial crunch and refused to pay the arrears in cash to its regular employees, on the other hand it is paying arrears in cash to non-deserving employees.

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Fake PRC racket busted

Police today unearthed a major racket engaged in making fake Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) with the arrest of two accused including a retired Revenue official and an ex-serviceman while a serving Irrigation Department Patwari was absconding.

Twenty nine fake PRC, seven files for making State Subjects, 16 blank forms and some other material has been recovered from the possession of accused. Police have reports many more fake PRCs had been made by the accused, which would be recovered during the ongoing investigations.Addressing a press conference at Bishnah police station, SP Headquarters Shailender Singh along with SDPO RS Pura SS Samyal and SHO Bishnah Jai Pal Sharma said Himmat Singh son of Lakshman Singh R/o village Ratnal, Bishnah, a retired Girdawar was arrested on a specific information that he along with other accused was engaged in making illegal PRCs using fake stamps and other documents of the Revenue officers.

Himmat Singh had 30 years of service in Bishnah area including 15 years in one Patwar of Rial. He had started illegal business of making fake PRCs during his service tenure and continued with it even after retirement.

Police recovered two fake PRCs from his possession. He was subjected to interrogation during which he disclosed identity of his accomplices including Dev Raj son of Sanji Ram R/o Bishnah and Romesh Lal son of Hans Raj R/o Chak Majra, Bishnah.

While Dev Raj was an ex-serviceman and ex-Councillor of Bishnah Municipality, Romesh Lal was serving as Patwari in Irrrigation Department.

Police arrested Dev Raj and recovered 27 fake PRCs from his possession, seven files for making fake PRCs and 16 blank forms.

Police conducted raids for Romesh Lal but he had gone underground. Police said some more fake PRCs besides stamps and other material used for making fake State Subjects were lying with Romesh Lal for whom police have launched a manhunt.

Some more accused including Government officials were involved in making fake PRCs, sources said, adding that Himmat Singh and Dev Raj were being questioned to identify and apprehend them.

The accused had been charging Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 per person for making fake State Subject.

Police said most of the fake State Subjects had been issued to natives of Bishnah and surrounding areas.

A case against the accused has been registered at Bishnah police station under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 RPC for further investigations, which have been assigned to SHO Bishnah Jai Pal Sharma.

June 2011 News in Kashmir 

1,72400 kanal of evacuee land under illegal occupation

Over 1,72,400 kanal of evacuee property land is either under the illegal occupation of various persons or situated in unsafe places and Revenue Department has already issued directives to subordinate field agencies to initiate eviction proceedings against them.

This information was given in a written reply by Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla in State Assembly to the Starred question of Ch Zulfkar during the just concluded Budget session.

The Minister said out of this 164,400 kanal of land is illegally occupied in Jammu Division alone while 8065 kanal is in Kashmir Valley. The Department has so far retrieved 405 kanal of land in Kashmir Valley and 905 Kanal and four marla of land in Jammu Division. Besides 3269 kanals of land was made immune from further encroachments, he added.

The Minister said 14,11,763 Kanal and five marla of land have been notified as evacuee property in Jammu Division upto date while 58,428 kanal of land have been notified in Kashmir Valley so far, he added.

The Minister said that land measuring 57051 kanal and 17 marla in Jammu Division and 236 kanal and 11 marla in Kashmir Valley are in the occupation of Army and para military forces.

The Competent Authority for purposes of granting administrative approval for creation of new assets/ reconstruction vests with the administrative Revenue Department after having the project vetted by the Joint Development Committee (JDC) Works. However the powers of reconstruction / re-erection exercisable by the Government under J&K Evacuee Administration & Property Act 2006 have been delegated to the Custodian General, he added.

The revenue generated from evacuees property since 2007 till January 31 this year is Rs 40 8151890.70 while Rs 179878655.00 were involved in expenditure on management of this property since this period.

The year wise revenue generated is Rs 10,37,94,658.00, in 2007-08 Rs 6,90,41,162.00, in 2008-09, Rs 9,85,41,313.00, in 2009-10, Rs 8,16,49,028.73, in 2010-11 and Rs 5,51,25,729.00, in 2011-12.

While the revenue generation was highest in 2007-08 it was lowest in 2011 –12.

Land Scam in Kashmir

CBI chargesheet in NRHM scam

The CBI today filed the third charge sheet in the National Rural Health Mission scam before special court here for alleged irregularities in purchase of computers and peripherals in Uttar Pradesh under the centrally sponsored scheme.

The agency has charged Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Public Sector Undertaking Shreeton India Limited, G K Batra, owner of Axis Marketing Virender Goel, and owner of Radhey Shyam Enterprises Neeraj Upadhyaya under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust besides relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI has alleged that a loss of Rs 2.78 crore was caused to exchequer in the purchase of 951 computers and peripherals under the NRHM.

This is the third charge sheet filed by the agency in connection with the alleged misuse of funds under the NRHM in Uttar Pradesh.

The CBI has alleged that Batra had released funds in advance to - Axis India Ltd of Delhi and Radheyshyam Enterprises of Lucknow - even before tender bids were invited for the supply of computers. 

Minister in exam copying scam

Land Scam in Kashmir

Multi Crore Cricket Scam

WC seeks CBI probe into ‘embezzlements’

HC issues notice; asks Govt, JKCA, J&K Bank, BCCI to file objections

The Working Committee (WC) of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has sought registration of FIR and a CBI probe into the recently surfaced multi-crore cricket scam in Kashmir.

 According to advocate Abhinav Sharma, the counsel for the working committee of JKCA, an application was filed before the Jammu wing of the state High Court seeking CBI probe into the scam.

 “In this application, we have prayed that since the names of some political personalities have surfaced in the scam, the police cannot probe the matter impartially and fairly. So we have sought court directions for the CBI enquiry into the matter,” advocate Sharma said.

 Justice Husnain Masoodi, who heard the matter yesterday, issued notices to the state government, JKCA, J&K Bank, and BCCI to file objection within two weeks.

 Advocate Sharma said that the application was filed at a time when the main petition filed by the working committee of the JKCA comprising Avtar Krishan Tickoo, Chaman Lal Chrungoo, M L Nehru and others is pending for disposal before the court.

 In its main petition filed last year, the working committee of the JKCA had challenged the suspension of ML Nehru from the working committee which was stayed by the court later.

 Since the appointment of auditor was made by Mohammad Aslam Goni, the former general secretary of JKCA against the association’s constitution, in its main petition the working committee had also prayed that the audited accounts of the cricket association duly audited by the auditor appointed under the constitution of the JKCA be produced before the High Court.

 The petitioners, according to advocate Sharma, had also sought court to appointment of a receiver, who according to him, would manage the affairs of the cricket association. “We had prayed that since there are financial irregularities and mismanagement in the JKCA, the affairs of the association be managed by the court appointed receiver,” advocate Sharma informed.

 The counsel for the working committee had also furnished a J&K Bank statement from April 2009 to December 2009, which according to advocate Sharma reveals that the office bearers of the JKCA including the former general secretary and the treasurer had withdrawn about Rs 3 Crores by way of self cheques. The working committee had also sought an enquiry into the functioning of JK Bank. The withdrawal of money by way of self cheques was later barred by the High Court, he added.

 Meanwhile, the High Court had allowed the petitioners (working committee of JKC) to hold fresh elections of the office bearers of the JKCA. By virtue of this order, fresh elections were held on June 23, 2011 wherein the office bearers of the association were elected including Dr Farooq Abdullah as the president of JKCA for a term of three years, which according to advocate Sharma was against the constitution of JKCA.

 “Dr Farooq got elected as president, Aslam Goni as chairman and Ehsan Mirza as general secretary for a term of three years while as the constitution of the JKCA says the elections for these posts are valid for one year only. Even there was no amendment made to the constitution of the JKCA prior to these elections,” advocate Sharma said.

 The working committee had later challenged these elections in the court which is pending for disposal. “Meanwhile, another fraud was detected in Khanyar wherein it is said that crores of rupees have been siphoned off. This prompted us to filed the fresh application (CMP) seeking registration of FIR and CBI probe into the matter,” advocate Sharma informed.

 Pertinently, Mohammad Saleem Khan, the then Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Ehsan Mirza the former General Secretary of JKCA are on interim bail which has been extended till April 7.

 Notably, a Special Investigation Team of police has been already formed to probe the matter. However, the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been demanding a probe by the CBI as on March 12, the PDP sought adjournment of normal business in the state Assembly and holding discussion over it.

 The PDP has maintained that there is a need to get the investigation conducted by CBI in the case as has happened in similar nature of allegations outside Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in case of Suresh Kalmadi.

 The police had earlier said that it was Muhammad Aslam Goni the Chairman of JKCA who had lodged the complaint about misappropriation of funds in the Association before it. Later the police conducted raids at several places in connection with the complaint.

 According to reports the alleged fraud was detected when Mirza was summoned by the JKCA earlier who admitted shortfall in the accounts.

 He had been reportedly asked to deposit Rs 1.5 crore in the JKCA accounts by the end of this month.

 A local news agency had quoted J&K Bank Chairman, Mushtaq Ahmad, saying “We are investigating the case. It will take some time. A Bank supervision team is already looking into the matter. I can comment only when they will complete the probe.” 

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19 illegal Stone Crushers in Sidhra

A total nineteen (19) industrial units including stone crushers, automobiles showrooms/ workshops are operating illegally in Sidhra area of Jammu while only two units have given consent to operate from the State Pollution Control Board.

Replying to a question of PDP member Murtaza Ahmed Khan in the Upper House today, Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf said that out of the 21 units including showrooms/ workshops and stone crushers operating in Sidhra area only two have been granted consent by the SPCB. Two cases were under process while notices have been served to several other units. He claimed that after obtaining all clearances from the concerned departments, Industries and Commerce Department grants registration to such units.

Altaf said in terms of section 21 of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, the entrepreneurs are required to obtain prior consent of the State Pollution Control Board for setting up or operation of the industrial units. Similarly under Water Act of 1974, prior consent is needed from the Board. The building permission is needed from JDA.

When asked about any legal action taken against remaining 19 others operating units without valid permission, the minister said closure orders were issued against two units. The Government wants to take some lenient view and give some time to the unit holders as many of them were small unit holders. M/s Shiv Shakti Batteries Bye Pass Road Sidhra has consent /NOC up to March 2013 while M/s Trehan Automobiles Pvt Ltd (Hill View Honda), authorized Sales and service Station Sidhra has permission to operate up to December 2013.

In response to yet another supplementary, the minister maintained that one complaint was received against Eicher Motors, Sidhra which was allegedly operating illegally without consent of the SPCB and bereft of pollution control devices/ measures. The closure of the unit was ordered on 16-08-2011 and subsequently, the unit holder installed the effluent treatment plant (ETP) and adopted measures for collection of the hazardous waste. The PCB was verifying the same. Altaf assured the member to constitute a special team of officers to visit the area and examine and take strict action if these unit holders do not respond within next two weeks.

While replying to another question of Jahangir Mir, the minister said 2658 closures have been established by Forest department in the State in last three years, which included 101 in Rajouri and 95 in Poonch. He disclosed that an amount of Rs 69.62 crore has been spent on these closures for plantation and fencing. Rs 307.20 lakh was spent in Rajouri and Rs 220.46 lakh in Poonch districts. Replying to another question he said the life of fence posts is less than the time taken for plantation to grow up. Hence these posts are not re-used for making new closures.

International Conference on Global Cultural

Valedictory function of seminar held

Poor Facilities at Jagti Camp

8330 kanals of Tawi land encroached

While the department of Irrigation and Flood Control was in process of reclaiming thousands kanal of land in river Tawi by raising bunds, out of 9042 kanals of land reclaimed from the river so far, nearly 8330 kanals and 15 marlas has been encroached upon by people including some influential persons.

While the Revenue department has yet to make any entry of this reclaimed land into its record, nearly 4902 kanals and 18 marlas of land in Sidhra and Dwada belonged to the Forests and Jammu Development Authority. While some land in question falls in Sidhra nearly 2522 kanals of land is located near Dwada village, adjoining under construction Golf Course at the bank of river Tawi. This total area has recently been notified under Section 4(1) of the Land Acquisition Act by Collector Irrigation and Flood Control for development of infrastructure, in addition to the total reclaimed land.

Member Legislative Council, Murtaza Khan, raised the issue during a discussion in the Upper House today. He pointed out that Government deliberately or otherwise, failed to make entries of this reclaimed land in the Revenue record and huge land has been grabbed by some influential politicians, top officers and many of them have even raised farm- houses. He said as per claim of PHE, I&FC Minister land being reclaimed from river will be more than 5000 kanals and will the Government give exact status and whether it is being added to the Revenue record or not. He sought the detail of such people who are in possession of this land. NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra also expressed serious concern over the issue and said that as per claim of PHE and Flood Control Minister thousands of kanals of land is being reclaimed from Tawi what will be the fate of such land. Why Girdawri of such land was not conducted. He said there was threat of grabbing of this land which is still in the process of reclamation and what steps will be taken to vacate that land. Whether Government intended to get the grabbed land vacated, he asked.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ram Bhalla while replying said that Government as per its clear policy, was committed to get the land vacated from the illegal occupants. He assured the House that encroached land will be got vacated. At the same time he sought cooperation from all quarters in this regard. He claimed that a Task Force headed by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and involving DC and other officers from Housing, Forest and Police has been framed.

Mr Bhalla admitted that nearly 9042 kanals and 18 marla of land has been reclaimed so far from river Tawi. 712 kanals and 3 marla of land belonged to Niabat Jammu Khas, 8192 kanals 2 marla under Niabat Gho Manhasan and 139 kanals and 13 marlas under Gole Niabat. He said Irrigation and Flood Control department is in process of re-claiming land from the river by raising protection bunds and the process of bringing the said land on record has been started. A field survey is also being done. It is vast area and extensive exercise is required for it.

Revenue Minister further clarified that out of this total area reclaimed, 4902 kanals and 18 marlas belonged to JDA and Forest/WL and it was through a notification acquired by Collector I&FC for development of infrastructure. He however, claimed that no land has recently been reclaimed and entered in record. Bhalla said 8330 kanals and 15 marlas of land was in illegal occupation of many persons and from time to time notices were served to many of them. He said 3575 kanals of encroached land falls in and around Makwal Tawi island, 672 kanals at Singhu Tehra, 937 kanals Tehra, 1712 kanals at Thub, 422 kanals at Raipur Jagir, 869 kanals at Haripur, 138 kanals at Gole and other places. Mr Bhalla said 712 kanals of Land falling in Jammu Khas also belonged at JDA/Forests, out of which 73 kanals and 14 marlas of land is under Park and land measuring 625 kanals situated at Majeen- Sidhra is under Golf Ground. And 23 kanals of land at Bain Bajal is under JDA.

lawyers strike Continued

SKIMS celebrates 29th Foundation Day

Governor pays tributes to Karbala martyrs

700 Cr NRHM are Plundered in Jammu and Kashmir

Funds to the tune of ` 4.37 Crore were separately released and transferred electronically to Director of Health Services Jammu (DHJ) and Director of Health Services Kashmir (DHK) for purchase of the drug kits for thousands of health institutions and ASHA workers in Jammu and Kashmir, in 2010-11. 

While as the process progressed 'smoothly' in Jammu, hiccups came up in Srinagar. Head of the Srinagar-based Purchase Committee and then Principal of Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Shahida Mir, refused to be part of the NRHM loot-and-scoot. 

Vide his letter No: DHSK/Kits/2010-11/1775-77 dated 12-01-2010, Dr Amin Wani asked the Purchase Committee in Srinagar to assess and approve the rates for the supplies. After a meeting, Srinagar-based Purchase Committee communicated its decision to DHK through its Member-Secretary, vide No: PS/AIJ/MCS/1847-48 dated 25-01-2011. It reads: "It was unanimously decided that in view of the guidelines referred to in the letter from Govt of India, Mission Director National Rural Health Mission can purchase the drugs as per rules".

As per verbal instructions from the top, the handpicked incharge DHJ, Dr Ashok Sharma, constituted an 'Experts Committee' for processing the tenders and approving the rates. It comprised Dr Subhash Bhagat, Deputy Director Headquarters at Directorate of Health Services Jammu, Dr HL Sharma, Controller of Stores in Jammu, Dr Sham Gopal, District Nutrition Officer, and Bhushan Anand, Assistant Accounts Officer at DHS Jammu. 

The committee shut its eyes completely to the key factors of suspicion. Without raising a question, its members observed that all the four tenders of the CPSEs had been filled up by one individual with no change in any of the rates. All the four were noticed to have quoted the rate of ` 1878 for 4,000 ASHA Kits to be purchased for Jammu division for the year 2010-11. Drug kits of same specifications had been purchased by the department at ` 931, just a year back in 2009-10. 

Without any changes or negotiations, supplies were distributed equally among the four CPSE bidders. Their identically quoted rate of ` 1,878 each kit was allotted for all the 4,000 ASHA drug kits, causing huge loss to the State exchequer. Nearly 100% increase in rates of all the items was allowed and approved without questioning.

For the supplies in Jammu division, the bidders identically quoted ` 1,878 for each of 4,000 ASHA kits. They also quoted ` 6,559 for each of the 968 Sub Center-A kits, ` 4,368 for each of 968 Sub Center-B kit, ` 54,929 for each of 162 PHC drug kits, ` 60,832 for each of 30 RTI/STI drug kits, ` 2,77,818 for each of 28 FRU kits, `98,919 for each of 35 CHC drug kits and ` 46,826 for each of 162 drug kits for the sick newborn babies.

Tenders for Jammu were received on 12-01-2011 and opened on 19-01-2011. Within one hour, DHJ approved the Rate Contract No: DHS/J/1442-44 dated 19-01-2011 without any change or negotiations. Though the Rate Contract was approved within one hour, 11 days were spent in holding "secret dealings" with the suppliers and officials associated with the process. Interestingly, one of the conditions in the supply orders made it incumbent upon the firms to give a written undertaking that "no middleman commission has been paid in between". 

In this particular case, middlemen and the apparently invisible top men have enjoyed a field day. As established by VOJ, the level of confidence has been so high that only one person has collected all the payment cheques and deposited the same with different banks. Hefty 'commissions' went to the men at the helm of affairs and their relatives and cronies. Under pressure from certain quarters, VOJ has not yet touched the main underhand fixer, Ashok Sharma alias Bitta S/o Gyan Chand, who is unfazed by the investigation and has been operating his pharmaceutical business in Jammu. 

Subsequently, DHJ's supply order No: DHS/J/1668 dated 02-02-2011 went to M/S Hindustan Antibiotic Chandigarh, supply order No: DHS/J/1674-80 dated 02-02-2011 to M/S Karnataka Antibiotic & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, supply order No: DHS/J/1681-87 dated 02-02-2011 to M/S Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceuticals Ltd and supply order No: DHS/J/1688-94 dated 02-02-2011 to M/S Rajasthan Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. As the allotted rates were hiked by over 100%, quantities doubled when supplies of Kashmir division were clubbed with those of Jammu division. 

Comptroller of Stores (Health) Jammu received the supplies from Hindustan Antibiotics on 17-04-2011, from Rajasthan Drugs on 18-04-2011, from Karnataka Antibiotics on 25-04-2011 and from Bengal Chemicals on 12-05-2011. Supplies made by the first three firms were entered into the stock register on 27-04-2011 and those of the fourth one on 25-05-2011. The supplies have been quickly shown to have further gone to the health centers. 

In criminal violation of the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, officials of Sham Lal Sharma's departments actually purchased the spurious and sub standard drugs manufactured by dubiously operating firms and only packaged by the CPSEs in their labeled drug kits. This part, according to well-placed authoritative sources, has been fairly investigated by VOJ and the crime has been established. 

However, for reasons not known to anybody, VOJ has not till date bothered to send the samples for necessary quality and standard check to FSLs. Consequently, these supplies are being consumed by thousands of people in Jammu, including sick newborn babies, at grave risk of life. 

Surprisingly, even the Commissioner-Secretary Health and Medical Education, Ghulam Ahmad Pir---otherwise known for his competence and integrity--- has also shut his eyes to this brazen loot in NRHM and circulation of substandard drugs manufactured by unknown and unregistered firms. The substandard supplies have already endangered thousands of human lives in the State. Government of India's guidelines regarding Purchase Preference Policy clearly mention that "items should be manufactured by the firms" getting the benefit of the policy. In this case of supplies to J&K, CPSEs have manufactured just few of the drugs and packaged the kits with the spurious drugs manufactured by dubiously operating private firms.

Notwithstanding the 'lukewarm response' of the Srinagar-based Purchasing Committee, Ministry of Health managed to set the process rolling first through then retiring DHK Dr Amin Wani and later through the new handpicked incharge DHK, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman. Even as SVO, allegedly under pressure from an influential political coterie, has excluded most of the key accused, including Directors of Health Services in Kashmir and Mission Director NRHM, sources insist that the supplies for Kashmir division too were procured from the same CPSEs. There too, cheques of various payments of all the four CPSEs have been handed over to just one middleman, who has been identified in the VOJ investigation in Jammu as Anil Lahoti and booked by name in FIR No: 19 of 2011 dated 16-09-2011.

All flights from Srinagar airport cancelled

Snowfall in Kashmir highway closed

Valley records lowest temp in 17 years

SIT seizes bank records in JKCA scam

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted for investigations into Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) related scam today seized the banks records pertaining to the scandal.

According to a police officer, who is part of SIT, they visited Khanyar and Air Cargo branches of Jammu and Kashmir bank today. He said that the team seized the records of five accounts pertaining to JKCA.

The police officer said the accounts have not been frozen yet and a decision to this effect would most probably be taken tomorrow. “We are studying the seized documents. We will report the findings to higher ups and most probably in morning a decision regarding the freezing of bank accounts would be communicated to we people,” the police officer said.

He added that the initial investigation reveals it a high profile case. “The investigation into the scam is an uphill task and the members of team are working round the clock to investigate the case,” the officer said.

An official in J&K Bank said that they have not yet received any communiqué regarding freezing of the  controversial bank accounts of J&KCA operated by Mirza and Saleem.

Here it needs a mention that soon after the uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly over JKCA scam police registered a case at Ram Munshi Bagh Police station vide FIR number 27/2012 based on the complaint lodged by association chairman Muhammad Aslam Goni against two officials Ahsan Mirza and Mohammad Saleem Khan.

To investigate the case Jammu and Kashmir police yesterday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and it is headed by Sub-divisional Police officer (SDPO) Nehru Park Ghulam Geelani Wani. Other members of the team, are two officers of the rank of inspector, two officers of sub-inspector rank and some other staff.

Bhagavaan Gopinathji Trust holds free medical camp

Google Facebook to face heat 

Natural Cave of Vaishno Devi Opened

JKCA multi crore scam rocks legislature

Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) multi-crore scam rocked the proceedings of Legislative Assembly consecutively on the second day today.

The bedlam prevailed at least for half an hour. During that period, the House witnessed mud-slinging and sloganeering contest between the legislators of National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on this issue and a separate slug-fest between NC MLA Peer Afaq and MLA Langate Abdul Rashid Engineer (though on a different issue) which finally culminated with the marshalling out of the latter.

JKCA issue figured Tuesday morning as soon as the House assembled for the day’s proceedings with the Question Hour.

Interestingly the issue was first raised by NC legislators at an aggressive note which evoked an equal response from PDP MLAs, thus plunging the entire House into disorder. NC members were seeking expunging of remarks, allegations against their president by PDP president and other members in the House on Monday. PDP members opposed it and reiterated their demand for action in JKCA scam.

Congress and other opposition members watched in complete silence this chaotic sequence, except for a brief intervention by BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma.

Question Hour could proceed peacefully only after Speaker Mohammed Akbar Lone was able to restore a semblance of order in the House with the directions to expunge remarks/allegations against NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah and an un-parliamentary slugfest between Peer Afaq and Abdul Rashid Engineer.
Earlier, bedlam prevailed in the House after the Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul at the very outset of the Question Hour voiced his concern over, what it was described as, “repeated attempts of opposition PDP to malign the image of NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on one pretext or the other.”
Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Gul said since Dr Farooq was not member of either of the House of the Legislature besides, the allegations levelled against him could not be debated in the House as per the business rules. Hence, he demanded for expunging the debate on the JKCA issue from the records of the Assembly Secretariat.
While he was speaking, almost all NC members including were on feet, gathered in between the front row. Among the ministers, the Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and MoS Javed Dar too were standing during the commotion besides Gul.
As Gul finished, his senior party colleague Chowdhary Mohammed Ramzan too endorsed his point stating that PDP members without knowing the facts, levelled baseless allegations against the party president and thus their remarks/allegations should be expunged from the recorded proceedings of the House.

NC MLA Nazir Ahmed Gurezi took a dig at the PDP members stating, “Daaka Kisne Daala…..State Accountability Commission (SAC) Mein Cases Kiske Khilaf Darz Thay….”

In the meanwhile NC members pointing towards PDP desks started raising slogans “Chor Machaye Shor…”. This continued for at least five minutes and then PDP members led by their president Mehbooba Mufti started thumping of desks saying whatever slogans NC MLAs were raising, approved of their own (NC legislators’) action.  

NC legislators continued raising slogans “Sach Ka Bolbaala, Jhooth Ka Munh Kaala.” While this was going on, the Speaker admonished NC members saying that this was not proper. “Since the treasury benches are indulging into all this, it indicates that the ruling party is not interested in running this House smoothly,” he said.
In the meanwhile at around 10.11 AM, PDP members too were on feet raising slogans, “We want discussion,” “Gali Gali Mein Shor Hai Yeh Sarkar Chor Hai…”

At this point of time, NC MLA Mir Saifullah rose to point out that as per rules, no discussion could be held on this issue as the person referred to was not the member of the House. NC members countered PDP’s slogans with a new bout of slogans, “PDP Hai-Hai”, “Kundal Report Ka Chor Kaun…..”

Upon this, the Speaker pointing towards both the sides said, “It seems that you’ve no concern for public issues.”
In the meanwhile, BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma, while addressing the chair, intervened, “Speaker Sir, take a decision on this account (discussion) as both the sides are creating ruckus and disturbing the proceedings of the House.”

Speaker, while trying to persuade both the sides, asked the agitating legislators to take their seats and said, “This is an established fact that that a person who is not a member of the House and is not himself present in the House, the issues related to him should not be discussed. I know the treasury benches are raising this issue. Person, who cannot defend himself, cannot be discussed. This is not right and fair.” He then gave directions to expunge the remarks/allegations levelled against NC president in the proceedings of Monday and Tuesday.

As this issue settled down, MLA Langate raised the issue of SHRC recommendation about Kunanposhpora rape victims and the House was a witness to yet another chaotic sequence in the form of scuffle between Engineer and Peer Afaq, which culminated only when MLA Langate was marshaled out.

All flights from Srinagar airport cancelled

Snowfall in Kashmir highway closed 

Valley records lowest temp in 17 years

ITI certificates on sale

A certificate scandal has surfaced in the Technical Education department where the fake Industrial Training Institute (ITI) certificates are being issued to the candidates for getting Government jobs.

Such types of fake certificates are mostly being issued from the ITIs of North Kashmir allegedly on huge payments to facilitate them Government jobs.

One of candidates who was not even student of the ITI, Uri managed to figure in the result gazette of 2008 and got a certificate issued from the department.

The result of the State trade test held under State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) in July 2007 in various ITI's of the State was declared under Notification No. 03 of 2008 dated 12-02-2008 in which two candidates with same name and parentage figured in ITI Uri.

As per the records of the ITI, Uri, a candidate Abdul Khaliq Lone son of Abdul Jamal Lone was undergoing training during session 2005-2006 and was declared successful in the examination gazette under Roll No. Pb19-J\07-2026 securing 524 marks.

Another candidate with same name and parentage, Abdul Khaliq Lone son of Abdul Jamal Lone, figured in the successful candidates with Roll No. Pb19-J\07-2028 securing 519 marks.

As per the attendance register of ITI, Uri only one Abdul Khaliq Lone son of Abdul Jamal Lone was enrolled and underwent training in the ITI, Uri during the session 2005-2006. Another Abdul Khaliq Lone was not even enrolled in 2006-2007 session as per the attendance register of the ITI.

The fraud seems to have been done with active connivance of the officials of the ITI from top to bottom as admission procedure in ITIs includes selection of candidates through selection process, trainings and then examination.

As per the procedure, a list of selected candidates is prepared on the basis on merit and then these candidates are admitted in the ITIs. The selected candidates' then deposit admission fee with the concerned ITIs and the fees is later deposited in the treasury.

As per the guidelines a trainee who attained 80 per cent attendance is allowed to sit in the examination and ` 50 as examinationfee is deposited by each candidate in the treasury and ITI head attested the examination form and on the basis of this Director Technical Education allotted Roll number to a candidate.

The candidate has managed to bypass the entire procedure but got his name in the result gazette. The certificates were issued under No. 004608 and 004610 to both the candidates. Both of them are now Government employees, one on fake certificate and the other on genuine certificate.

Fake ITI certificates are in circulation mostly in North Kashmir and a large number of people have managed to get jobs on these certificates, alleged a group of ITI pass trained youth. The ITI pass outs demand that the certificates should be properly verified with the department before issuing appointment orders to them. The ITI pass outs alleged that large number of people have got fake ITI certificate in North Kashmir for getting Government jobs. Police had even seized around 100 fake ITI certificates from a Srinagar hotel 5 years back but the case was hushed up.

Netajis birth anniversary celebrated in jammu kashmir

Murti asthapana of Baba Kaliveer Ji on Jan 28 

weather forecast dominates life in Kashmir

SIT formed to probe JKCA scam

Jammu and Kashmir police today formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for in-depth investigations into alleged misappropriation of funds in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

According to a senior police officer, supervising the investigations, SIT was formed today and is headed by Sub-divisional Police officer (SDPO) Nehru Park Ghulam Geelani Wani.

The team includes two inspectors, two sub-inspectors and some other staff. The police officer said that it will take time to conclude the case. “We have seized a lot of documents and it will take time to study them,” he said, adding that investigating team is working on the issue at a fast pace.

The police officer said that it is premature to say that weather there would be more arrests or no. “Let us investigate and it will decide the future course of action,” the police officer said.

The police on Saturday registered a case against two former officials of JKCA following allegations of misappropriation of funds, received by the body from the BCCI.

A case was registered at Ram Munshi Bagh Police station vide FIR number 27/2012 based on the complaint lodged by JKCA chairman Muhammad Aslam Goni against the then treasurer Ehsan Mirza and then general secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan.

Mirza, who was elected general secretary of the JKCA last year and Khan, who was chief administrative officer, were asked to step down on Wednesday after the present treasurer Manzoor Wazir detected financial irregularities in the JKCA's accounts.

Goni said Mirza has accepted that some funds of the association were lying with them but did not mention the amount. Police on Saturday seized the records of the Association while the two accused have applied for anticipatory bail in a court.

Taj Vakil battle

Workshop on Right to Informatioin Act held 

One way traffic restored fully on highway

Documents Link Farooq to JKCA Scam

 Various documents of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), which found their way to the newspaper offices, electronic new channels and news agencies allegedly provide a peep into the direct link of Dr Farooq Abdullah, union minister of new and renewable energy and president of the association, with the recently exposed multi-crore scam.

However, Dr Abdullah in a statement said he was not involved in the scandal and is very much clean.On March 10, 2012, the branch head of J&K Bank, Khanyar wrote a letter to chairman JKCA, Aslam Goni regarding loan raised against the association deposits amounting to Rs 1.90 crore. The letter reveals, “On the authority of letter issued by honourable president JKCA the loan of Rs1.90 crore was raised against own deposits of the association on July 3, 2008 and proceeds whereof were credited to current account No 90605 of Mr Ahsan Mirza maintained with our business unit.”

Till yesterday, the official stand of JKCA was that Mirza had diverted the money of JKCA to his accounts on his own and subsequently a case was registered against him and the former chief administrative officer Saleem Khan for misappropriation of funds by the police on the complaint lodged by Aslam Goni. But after the exposure of the bank branch head’s letter, Dr Abdullah besides defending himself came to rescue of Ahsan Mirza saying it was he, who provided money to JKCA when it was in financial crisis due to a court directive and JKCA had to pay back the loan money to him.
Interestingly when the state high court had stayed the appointment of Honourary Treasurer in 2006, Ahsan Mirza, ex-treasure was authorised to continue to function as Honourary Treasurer of the association and operate bank accounts along with other officials.

The bank statements related to JKCA accounts reveal as how ruthlessly the money was withdrawn on regular basis. At the Khanyar branch of the J&K bank, huge amount of money was withdrawn regularly from the Account No: ...9060  by the officials of JKCA. Rs five lakh were withdrawn on April 5, 2009, Rs three lakh on September 16, 2009, Rs 4.30 lakh on September 25, 2009, Rs four lakh on September 29, 2009, Rs three lakh on October 1, 2009, Rs five lakh on October 14, 2009, Rs five lakh on October 15, 2009, Rs five lakh on October 19, 2009, Rs one lakh on October 21, 2009, Rs five lakh on January 8, 2010, Rs five lakh on January 1, 2010, Rs 10 lakh on March 8, 2010 and Rs 10 lakh on March 9, 2010. The money was withdrawn in a similar fashion on other dates also.

With Dr Abdullah in the midst of crisis, he today issued a statement through JKCA. He claimed that media is carrying the news that he authorized a loan to Ahsan Ahmad Mirza the then treasurer of the Association. He clarified that when the accounts of the JKCA were sealed by the Court, no money was available to run the day to day affairs of the Association. “Shri Ahsan Ahmad Mirza treasurer of the Association advanced interest free loans from time to time for running of the affairs to JKCA from his own personal funds which had accumulated to Rs. 1.90 crores.
On June 28, 2008, the JKCA unanimously resolved that the interest free loan of Rupees One Crore Ninety Lacs only raised by the JKCA from Ahsan Ahmad Mirza has to be repaid. As such it was unanimously resolved by JKCA that J&K Bank branch Khanyar be authorized to raise a loan of an amount of Rs. 1.90 crores against two cash certificates of JKCA with the J&K Bank Air Cargo Branch bearing No. 2587618 and 2587619 amounting to Rs, 1,07,39416 each,” Dr Abdullah said.
The president of JKCA added that it was further resolved that the amount of Rs. 1.90 crores so raised be transferred to Account No. 90605 of Ahsan Ahmad Mirza to liquidate the loan amount he (Ahsan Ahmad Mirza) had advanced to the Association from time to time. “The Association further resolved that the loan so raised will be liquidated by the Association. (A copy of the said resolution which was forwarded to the J&K Bank is enclosed),” he said.
Dr. Abdullah said that it was clear that he did not authorize any loan in his individual capacity and the loan raised was on the basis of a unanimous resolution of the JKCA passed by the JKCA Governing Body and the same was done to square up the borrowings of JKCA which was all properly documented.
“So far as the happenings after 2008 are concerned, the JKCA has already lodged an FIR and the J&K Police which has seized the documents will conduct a detailed investigation and the law shall take its own course. Whosoever is found guilty will have to face the consequences as per law,” he said.

The president of J&KCA said that by making preferred leaks to the media and by not putting all the facts in the public domain certain forces are trying to make an unsuccessful attempt to tarnish his image for political mileage knowing well that he is absolutely clean. He said that he was open to any scrutiny for his conduct as President of the JKCA.
He said that he has also requested the BCCI to depute its auditors who can sit with the auditors of the JKCA and conduct a joint audit of the accounts to know the facts. Dr. Abdullah said that JKCA was in fact the whistle blower in the case when certain facts were brought to his notice and this tirade against him was baseless and frivolous.
Despite the statement of Dr Abdullah, it is a known fact that Ahsan Mirza is closely associated with him and so is Saleem Khan. It was because of his personal rapport with them that the latter got entry into J&KCA. If JKCA was really a whistle blower why it observed silence over the scandal since long.

As per documents, there were three accounts of the JKCA that were being operated by Mirza and Khan who were treasurer and general secretary between 2008 and 2011. Why these three accounts were not mentioned in the audit report 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 of the JKCA.

Interestingly, one of the three accounts, CD-I, 90606, was opened at Khanyar branch of J&K Bank on June 21, 2008, the day Ahsan Mirza opened a personal account CD-90605 in the same branch.

The two accused operated the account CD-90606 till May 3, 2011 and a new account, CD 91022 was opened on the same day in the same branch of the bank. Interestingly, no plausible reason has been given for doing so or what was the urgency in opening a new account instead of carrying out the transactions in the old account.

As per the documents the CD-90606 account was opened with Rs 10,000 and Rs 7.2 crore was deposited in it on February 19, 2009 through bank transfer from account 010126650-1198 and same day it was kept as fixed deposit by the JKCA. On May 4, 2009 first cheque bearing number 19400001 of Rs five lakh was issued in favour of self by Mirza and Khan.

According to bank statements, for next three years, an amount of Rs 13.29 crore of BCCI was credited and then debited from the account before it was closed last year. Maximum amount was drawn in favour of Ahsan Mirza and self -Mirza and Khan. No reasons have been and explanation given for withdrawal of huge amounts of money in cash.

Minister in exam copying scam

Farooq to debate Interlocutors report in Parliament 

Beating Retreat Ceremony 2012

NRHM scam

SVO 'under pressure' to spare Minister's coterie in NRHM scam
9500 ASHA kits purchased @ ` 931 each
in 2010, @ ` 1878 in 2011

Enjoying the patronage of a Cabinet Minister, an inter-state drug mafia has been looting the UPA Government's flagship programme in health sector, National Rural Health Mission, in Jammu & Kashmir even as the authorities claim to have put in place a "fool-proof" auditing and monitoring system for the ` 1,000 Crore ambitious project. State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has completed investigation into the Drug Kits supply scam and established the involvement of Jammu and Pune-based pharmaceutical agents but, reportedly under pressure to spare the Minister's coterie, it has not filed challan in the anti-corruption court in Jammu.According to highly placed sources in the State Government, SVO learned about large scale irregularities and embezzlements in NRHM funds over a year ago and launched a preliminary inquiry. Allegations made in a host of complaints were found true and subsequently case FIR No: 19 of 2011 under Sections 52, 51(c) Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B Ranbir Penal Code was filed by Vigilance Organisation Jammu on 16-9-2011. It was substantiated with technical and documentary evidences that a coterie of agents, dealing in pharmaceutical business and having its network spread from Srinagar and Jammu to New Delhi and Pune, had been plundering NRHM funds with the patronage of certain politicians, including a Minister.

However, for the reasons best known to SVO, the preliminary inquiry, and later the full-fledged investigation, was restricted to only Jammu. Kashmir division was summarily excluded. Even in the FIR filed in Jammu, just one of the dozens of the accused has been mentioned by name. He is the retired Director Health Services Jammu (DHJ), Dr Ashok Kumar Sharma. Neither the Mission Director, Dr Yashpal Sharma, nor the Financial Advisors of NRHM and Directorates of Health Service in Kashmir and Jammu have been listed as the accused. This inspite of the fact that their criminal culpability in the NRHM plunder was determined with material evidences.

Even from the private operatives, just two have been mentioned by name. They are businessman Anil Lahoti, who surfaced as the 'fixer' between the drug mafia and the politicians, including a Minister, and Pune-based operative, Kamlesh Dagga---owner of Plastic Surge, Amravati, Pune. Under sustained pressure from the political executive, Jammu-based pharmaceutical dealer Ashok Sharma alias Bitta, who alleged handed the entire operation as per a Minister's instructions, has also been successfully excluded from the chargesheet. Then Director Health Services Kashmir (DHK), Dr Mohammad Amin, has also been allowed to retire and take all pension benefits, without getting him into the ambit of the investigation.

Though the investigation in Jammu division has been completed and the charges against the selective officials established, challan has not been produced in the court of anti-corruption court.

Interestingly, none other than Chief Minister Omar Abdullah happens to be the Chairman of State Rural Health Mission (SRHM) and Chief Secretary Madhav Lal stands designated as Chairman of the Governing Body of J&K State Health Society (SHS). These two apex bodies operate and regulate entire planning and execution of NRHM works in J&K.

Officials working with both, Chief Minister as well as Chief Secretary, refused to make a comment on record. Nevertheless, they invariably maintained that there was a general tendency to ignore almost all the complaints because of "numerous compulsions and constraints". When Jk News insisted to specify, they asserted that the blot of "poor performance" in NRHM and MG NREGA was already on J&K's face. "We are in the final year of NRHM's life and funds have not been spent to the satisfaction of the Centre. In absence of utilization certificates and cumulative savings, we will be forfeiting our claim on such funds generously provided by the Centre", said a middle rank bureaucrat. He, however, put the blame of the initial two years of NRHM's non-performance in J&K on the Governments of Ghulam Nabi Azad and Governor N N Vohra.

"We are not under any pressure. We have completed our investigation and would be submitting the challan in a month or so as we have yet to complete some formalities", said a senior official in SVO. He wished to be anonymous on the plea that he was not authorized to make comment on any case under investigation. He, however, confirmed that the Mission Director of NRHM and a former DHK had not been mentioned as the accused. "Our investigation does not cover the embezzlement in Kashmir division. As regards the Mission Director, let it be clear that we have mentioned unnamed officials of NRHM in the FIR. They obviously include the Mission Director and other high ups if their criminal involvement is established in our investigation", he added and refused to share exact status of the investigation.

Informed sources in the Government, however, disclosed that a coterie of officials and pharmaceutical dealers, known for their association and proximity to a Minister, has siphoned off NRHM funds at an alarming scale, particularly in the last three years. Different modus operandi have been adopted for different executions. For example, engagement of staff has been manipulated through Chief Medical Officers (CMOs). In many districts, DCs, who happen to be Chairmen of selection committees, were given a particular quota in lieu of their signatures. Corruption, nepotism and favouritism marred the merit in almost all selections.

Drug kits in large numbers were purchased through Central Public Sector Enterprises (SPSEs) ostensibly for price preference but the SPSEs acquired the drugs and instruments from either non-existing firms or those notorious for making spurious drugs. Instead of 35% discount, supplies were made only on 18% rebate.

Unprecedented hike in the prices is evident in the supplies made in 2009-10 and 2010-11. ASHA kits were purchased at ` 931 each kit in 2009-10. Within months this rate was hiked to stupendous ` 1878/- when 9500 ASHA kits were purchased in 2010-11 through SPSEs for J&K--- 4000 for Jammu and 5500 for Kashmir. Nearly 4000 Drug Kits were purchased in 2009-10. Rate of ` 3400 was paid for Drug Kits of Sub Centre 'A' and ` 1855 for Drug Kits of Sub Centre 'B'. Next year, rates for both items were hiked substantially. Payment of nearly ` 4.00 Cr was released to DHJ and DHK who, in turn, made it to selective productions firms through SBSEs. With this management, funds worth Over ` 1.50 Cr are estimated to have gone to the pockets of the Jammu and Pune-based pharmaceutical dealers enjoying support and patronage of a Minister.

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