ACB Detains J&K Police Inspector Over Disproportionate Assets; Raids Reveal Lavish Properties and Unexplained Wealth
Srinagar, Oct 11: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has detained a serving police inspector for questioning after uncovering evidence that he allegedly accumulated wealth vastly disproportionate to his known sources of income. The accused, identified as Inspector (Ministerial) Peer Zada Mushkoor Ahmad Shah, was posted as a cashier at the District Police Office (DPO) Bandipora, and is now under investigation for suspected corruption and misuse of official position.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), ACB, Javid Hassan, said that a detailed verification process was carried out following complaints and intelligence inputs alleging that Shah had amassed significant movable and immovable assets during his tenure. “The verification revealed that the officer and his family have acquired properties far exceeding his legitimate income,” the SSP said.
According to the findings, Shah owns 32 kanals and 6 marlas of land in Budgam district, including 17 kanals and 14 marlas in Sholipora Wudder, and a double-storey luxury residence with an attic built on a plot in Ompora Colony. Investigators also discovered that Shah maintains a bank balance exceeding ₹48 lakh, in addition to multiple vehicles registered in his and his family’s names.
The ACB further noted that the officer had spent around ₹40 lakh on the education of his children, apart from substantial amounts on foreign trips, insurance premiums, and luxury expenditures inconsistent with his declared income. “Considering his extravagant lifestyle, it is suspected that the accused may own additional undisclosed properties as well,” SSP Hassan said.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Shah allegedly amassed disproportionate assets between January 2012 and June 2025, well beyond his lawful earnings. “Scrutiny of his and his family’s bank accounts shows multiple suspicious transactions, unexplained deposits, and high-value cash flows,” Hassan stated. The ACB found that several high-value properties had been acquired in the names of Shah, his wife, and children, indicating deliberate attempts to conceal ownership.
The income-expenditure analysis conducted by the Bureau established a clear mismatch, showing that Shah’s legitimate income was significantly lower than his actual expenses and assets accumulated over time. “The accused public servant appears to have illicitly enriched himself through corrupt means, thereby violating the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” the SSP said.
Following registration of a formal case under the relevant sections of the Act, the ACB conducted search operations at two of Shah’s residences in Budgam, where several documents and valuables were seized for further examination. Shah has since been taken into custody for sustained questioning to establish the full scope of his financial dealings and identify potential collaborators.
The ACB’s investigation team is now expanding the probe to trace additional properties, financial instruments, and business linkages that may have been used to launder or conceal the proceeds of corruption. “Further investigation is in progress to determine the total extent of illegal assets and to ascertain the involvement of others, if any,” Hassan said, adding that strict legal action will follow once the inquiry concludes.
