Justice Bansi Lal Bhat of J&K High Court Jammu Wing in a writ petition filed by Istkhar Ali Khan of Mangal Nar (Manjakote) Rajouri has directed the Director State Vigilance Organization to submit the status of the complaint dated June, 12, 2015 wherein the petitioner has sought registration of FIR under Section 5(2) of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act against Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Rajouri, AEE Sub-Division South Rajouri, J.E and other officials for misappropriation of Nabard Funds to the tune of Rs.1,60,34,000 for the construction of Hayatpura-Mangalnar Road situated in Block Manjakote District Rajouri.
After hearing Advocate Asheesh Singh Kotwal appearing for the petitioner Justice Bansi Lal Bhat issued notice to the Commissioner/Secretary General Administration Department, Director State Vigilance Organization and Senior Superintendent of Police Vigilance Organization Rajouri-Poonch Range HQ, Jammu returnable within four weeks and in the meantime the Court directed the Director SVO to submit the status of the complaint lodged by the petitioner with the SVO on June, 12, 2015 with regard to the siphoning of the Nabard Funds for the construction of the aforesaid road.
During the course of arguments Advocate Asheesh Singh Kotwal submitted that PWD (R&B) Division Rajouri executed the construction of the road but funds have been shown utilized in papers only as actually and physically the said road is incomplete and works like culverts, metalling, black topping, lane and drains, earthwork etc are yet to be completed and on the other hand, the scheme sanctioned under NABARD has been exhausted and on the other hand funds amounting to Rs.148.30 lacs have been shown to be utilized by the PWD (R&B) Division Rajouri in response to petitioner’s RTI Application.Advocate Kotwal further submitted that the petitioner lodged a complaint with the Superintending Engineer concerned to constitute a committee for holding a inquiry into the matter as the funds were siphoned of by the officers of the Division in league with each other.
He further submitted that the project has been completed in papers only but the road is still incomplete and the works are yet to be completed.Advocate Kotwal according to CNS further submitted that in view of indifferent attitude of Superintending Engineer the petitioner on June, 12, 2015 lodged a complaint with the Director Vigilance and SSP Vigilance Rajouri-Poonch Range for constituting a SIT to probe the scam but nothing substantial was done despite repeated visits of the petitioner in the office of the SVO. He further submitted that the accused officials have the backing of some local politicians who are creating obstacles in the probe by the SVO.After considering the submissions of Advocate Kotwal, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat directed Director Vigilance, State Vigilance Organization to submit before the Court the status of the ongoing preliminary enquiry into the complaint of the petitioner highlighting misappropriation of Nabard funds in the construction of Hayatpura-Mangalnar Road situated in Block Manjakote, District Rajouri. (CNS)