Corruption Duo: ACB Highlights Shafi Rather’s Crore Empire & Mushtaq Bhat’s Drainage Scam
Srinagar, Sep 2, KNT: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Monday revealed details of two major corruption cases, exposing the rampant corruption and misuse of power by government employees in Kashmir Valley.
Assistant Inspector General ACB Headquarters Abdul Waheed Shah while addressing a press conference, shed light on the first case involving Shafi Rather, a Class IV employee from the Food Department in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Rather, who was supposed to be a low-ranking employee, amassed an enormous wealth through corrupt means, accumulating movable and immovable properties worth crores. Investigations revealed that he had purchased land at various locations in Kashmir Valley, in addition to his assets in the Jammu region. Besides Rather, the ACB has arrested his associates as well and is taking action under the law.
The second case involves Executive Engineer Mushtaq Bhat, who serves as the Project Director of SICOP. Bhat was found to have awarded a contract worth Rs 99 lakhs to an unqualified B-Class contractor, Ubaid Rashid Wani of Hyderpora, for the construction of a drainage system. The investigation revealed that Bhat violated rules and regulations, resorting to offline tenders in exchange for kickbacks. The project’s timeline was extended multiple times, resulting in a staggering cost escalation to Rs 2.70 crore, causing significant losses to the state exchequer. A case has been registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag in connection with this incident. [KNT]
