Budgam EOW Charges Former Municipal President, Two Others in 2022 Corruption Case

SRINAGAR, Dec 16: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir on Tuesday filed a chargesheet against three individuals, including former Municipal Committee Budgam president Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, in connection with a 2022 FIR alleging cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and abuse of official position, officials said.

The chargesheet was submitted before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption against Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, along with Ghulam Mohammad Mir and Abdul Majid Bhat, all residents of Budgam.

According to the EOW, the case originated from a complaint alleging large-scale embezzlement and illegal allotment of a government owned municipal building under the Municipal Committee Budgam. Investigations revealed that the former MC Budgam president misused his official position to confer undue benefits upon Mir. The purported allotment order, allegedly approved by a Municipal Committee resolution and the Director of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, was found to be forged.

The probe established that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy and prepared fake documents, including a forged allotment order, without lawful authority. All three accused admitted their involvement in the execution of the partnership deed, dissolution deed, and issuance of the fake allotment order during interrogation, the EOW said.

Based on extensive oral and documentary evidence, offences under Sections 120-B, 420, and 468 RPC were established against all accused. Additionally, the former MC Budgam president was charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for abuse of official position. The chargesheet has now been submitted for judicial adjudication.