Srinagar, Dec 9 (KNS): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet in a 2020 rice diversion case against three senior officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department for alleged criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of government food stocks, officials said on Tuesday.
A spokesperson of the Crime Branch said the charge sheet in FIR No. 07/2020 under Sections 409, 420 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code has been submitted before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sopore.
The accused have been identified as Siraj-ud-Din Bhat, then TSO PEG Baramulla; Mohammad Hussain Bhat, then TSO/Storekeeper Hygam Granary; and Mohammad Shafi Rather alias Shafi Kanda, then TSO Hygam Granary.
The case originated from a communication received from the FCS&CA Directorate regarding suspected diversion of rice stocks from the Hygam and Baramulla (Centre D) granaries, prompting the Crime Branch to initiate an inquiry.
Following the inputs, a Joint Surprise Check was ordered to verify dispatch and receipt records of food grain consignments.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Investigators detected major discrepancies after seven truckloads of rice shown as dispatched from PEG Baramulla under the supervision of FCI and departmental officials were found never to have reached the designated sale centres at Wagoora, Nowpora, Kathigan Jathiar, Kalantra and Dandmoh, the spokesperson said.
All the centres denied receiving the supplies and relevant records supported their claims, he added.
The probe further revealed that challans had been fraudulently obtained and processed by the accused officials to conceal the diversion of food stocks, allegedly in connivance with unnamed officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Baramulla.
The investigation concluded that the officials misappropriated a significant quantity of rice, causing huge financial loss to the state exchequer, the spokesperson said.
“Based on oral and documentary evidence collected during the investigation, the offences against the accused stand established, and the charge sheet has been filed under Section 173 CrPC for judicial determination,” the Crime Branch added.(KNS).