Srinagar, Nov 9, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a case against Shabnam Mir, former Assistant Director of Employment, for demanding and accepting bribes from Himalayan Motors in Srinagar. The allegations stem from Mir’s role as nodal officer for the ‘Mumkin scheme’ in Kupwara and Bandipora districts, where she allegedly demanded Rs10,000 per vehicle as bribe from Himalayan Motors officials.
ACB in a statement said that the investigation revealed that Shabnam Mir accepted bribes totaling Rs4,00,000, including Rs1,39,000 received through e-transactions. Additionally, officials from Himalayan Motors submitted pro-forma bills with fixed bribe money, approved by General Manager Sumeer Pandita and Managing Director Junaid Bashir Beigh, in exchange for preferential treatment.
An FIR has been registered against Mir, Pandita, Beigh, and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 and section 120-B IPC. Searches were conducted at multiple locations in Bandipora, Kupwara, and Srinagar, yielding incriminating documents. The investigation is ongoing, with the role of other officials being probed.
Himalayan Motors is a well-known car dealer in Srinagar, authorized by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. However, this incident has raised concerns about corruption and unethical practices in the Kashmir Valley by those at the helm of affairs. The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s actions aim to promote transparency and accountability in government offices and private businesses.
