Jammu and Kashmir: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) secured a significant breakthrough in Jammu and Kashmir’s anti-graft drive after a Special Anti-Corruption Court in Anantnag convicted five former storekeepers in the decades-old Pahalgam ration scam. The case, which dates back to 1990, involved allegations of misappropriation of food grains and the use of empty bags within the Food and Supplies Department.
36-Year-Old Pahalgam Ration Scam Finally Ends With Five Convictions
The court held Abdul Khaliq Shah, Ghulam Nabi Mir, Mohammad Shafi Rather, Ghulam Hassan Hajam, and Muzaffar Ahmad Bichoo guilty. All the accused were serving as storekeepers in the Pahalgam Circle at the time of the alleged irregularities.
According to the case records, irregularities were reported from April to September 1989, during which food grains and related materials worth ₹3,64,235 were allegedly siphoned off. The discrepancies came to light after a departmental audit revealed serious mismatches between stock records and distribution figures.
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Audit Trail of Missing Food Grains Turned Into a Full-Blown Corruption Verdict
The initial complaint was submitted by the Deputy Director, Food and Supplies Department, Srinagar, in 1989. Following this, the then Vigilance Organisation registered a case in 1990, which was later taken over by the ACB for further investigation.
After a detailed probe, a chargesheet was filed in 2003. The trial continued for years before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court Anantnag, Masarat Roohi, delivered the verdict on April 20, 2026. The court convicted all five accused under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code.
The court has scheduled arguments on the quantum of punishment for April 24, 2026. The ruling is being viewed as an important step in addressing long-pending corruption cases in the Union Territory.
Kupwara Fund Fraud Probe Reveals Fake Transfers
In a parallel development, the ACB has also filed a chargesheet in a separate case involving alleged embezzlement of development funds in Kupwara district. The case, registered in 2021 through a public grievance portal, pertains to irregularities in the implementation of government development schemes.
Investigators found that the then Block Development Officer of Kupwara, Abdul Majeed Ganie, along with a junior assistant, an MIS/GRS official, and two private individuals, allegedly conspired to siphon off public funds. The accused are said to have prepared fake Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs) and diverted money into unauthorized bank accounts, including those linked to relatives and associates.
The probe also revealed instances of double payments, fraudulent wage distribution under job card schemes, and payments made for work that was never executed on the ground. In several cases, labour payments were shown as disbursed but later found to have been misappropriated.
Further investigation pointed to deliberate destruction and withholding of official records. Authorities also noted that critical digital evidence, including Digital Signature Certificates, was not produced, raising suspicions of an attempt to obstruct the inquiry.
The total wrongful loss to the state exchequer in the Kupwara case has been estimated at ₹4.86 lakh, with corresponding illegal gains allegedly made by the accused and their associates. The chargesheet includes offences under sections related to corruption, cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and misconduct in public office.
ACB’s Twin Action Sends Strong Message on Misuse of Public Money
The ACB stated that both developments underscore its continued efforts to ensure accountability in public administration and to curb the misuse of government resources. It added that strict action against corruption is necessary to safeguard development funds and ensure that welfare schemes reach genuine beneficiaries.
Officials also indicated that priority is being given to clearing pending corruption cases to strengthen the pace of justice delivery. The twin actions—conviction in a decades-old ration scam and chargesheet in a recent development fund fraud—have intensified discussions on governance accountability in the region.
