Jammu and Kashmir’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against the then Director Horticulture Kashmir, members of various committees, and a private contractor over alleged corruption, financial irregularities, and abuse of official position in execution of development works at Zawoora Garden in Srinagar.
The case was registered following the outcome of a Joint Surprise Check conducted into allegations of corruption, financial irregularities, procedural violations, and abuse of official position in connection with development works executed by the Horticulture Department at Zawoora Garden, Srinagar.
A spokesperson of ACB said the Joint Surprise Check was initiated by Police Station ACB, Srinagar, to examine allegations relating to the development of the Centre of Excellence at Zawoora Garden, Srinagar. The enquiry revealed prima facie evidence of serious irregularities in the tendering and execution of works undertaken under the project.
During the verification, it surfaced that NIT was allegedly framed in a manner that lacked specific quality parameters and technical specifications, thereby creating scope for arbitrary decision-making. It was further found that the financial provisions incorporated in the tender were substantially higher than those envisaged in the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR), ACB said.
The enquiry also revealed that the eligibility criteria relating to financial turnover were allegedly fixed at an unusually high threshold, despite the actual requirement being significantly lower. This restrictive condition is alleged to have curtailed fair competition and favoured a particular bidder.
The findings of the Joint Surprise Check prima facie indicated abuse of official position, criminal misconduct, and criminal conspiracy involving public servants and the beneficiary private firm, resulting in undue pecuniary advantage to the contractor and corresponding loss to the Government.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Police Station ACB, Srinagar, under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006 and Section 120-B RPC against the then Director Horticulture Kashmir, members of the District Level Purchase Committee (DLPC), members of the Inspection Committee, the beneficiary contractor M/S Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., and other involved persons.
Further investigation into the case has been taken up to identify the role and culpability of all concerned and to take appropriate legal action in accordance with law, ACB said.
