In a significant development, Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K Monday claimed to have caught a “big fish”—a class fourth employee in Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD), who has become millionaire in the past few years.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Abdul Waheed Shah, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) ACB Headquarters J&K, said that after receiving a complaint, the ACB teams were constituted and investigations were rolled on.
“A complaint was received against one Muhammad Shafi Rather of Wanigam, Baramulla was possessing assets that did not match with his income as he was a class 4th employee in (CA&PD) department also known as food department,” Shah said.
He said that an FIR number 11/2024 was registered in police station Baramulla and after the investigation; reports of Rather possessing illegal assets were found true.
“He worked at the office of Assistant Director Food Baramulla and in connivance with the officials there, he managed to buy land, houses, vehicles, gold worth millions of rupees,” the AIG ACB said.
He said that after finding the complaint against Rather true, an FIR against him was registered under FIR 5 (1)—Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets Act.
Rather has acquired assets both movable and immovable property that include double storey under construction house at Baramulla, another house at Wanigam, Baramulla, 5 marla property at Bathindi Jammu, Joint purchase property at Pattan measuring 1.07 kanals of land, and Rs 24 lakh worth gold besides other properties in the form of vehicles etc,” the ACB officer said.
He said they got the search warrants at eight places yesterday and Rather’s properties have been seized till further investigations.