Corruption Charges Filed Against Former ACD, BDO, and Others

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Dec 19: Special Judge Anticorruption Doda, Archana Charak, has today brought charges against Ghulam Nabi Balwan, the former Assistant Commissioner Development of Kishtwar (now retired), Mohd. Yasin Mir, a retired BDO, Chet Singh, a former Junior Assistant at the BDO office in Drabshalla, and Khalid Hussain, a contractor. They were implicated by the Vigilance Organization Jammu (now the Anti-Corruption Bureau) in a case involving the misappropriation of funds.
The case’s key details indicate that Ghulam Nabi Balwan, while serving as the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kishtwar, improperly sanctioned four projects that were not listed in the Annual Action Plan for the years 2009-2010 or in its revised/additional version.
In collusion with other co-accused, Balwan conspired to benefit contractor Khalid Hussain by illegally approving these projects. He allegedly misused his official position, working with accused Yasin Mir, then BDO, and Chet Singh, the Junior Assistant at the BDO office in Drabshalla, to forge documents that facilitated the release of Rs. 10.00 lakhs to Khalid Hussain.
During proceedings, Special PP Rajesh Gill argued on behalf of the ACB, while Advocate Shehraj Bhat represented the accused. The court noted, “There is adequate material on record to establish prima facie that Ghulam Nabi, the then ACD Kishtwar, in collaboration with other public servants, conspired to approve the aforementioned works, creating false documentation and fraudulent muster rolls to secure payments amounting to Rs. 10 lakhs for Khalid Hussain. This involved misrepresentation of skilled and unskilled workers listed in the muster roll, violating regulations, and misappropriating government funds.
“Thus, the Court is of the considered opinion that there are substantive grounds to proceed against the accused individuals, namely Ghulam Nabi Balwan, the former Assistant Commissioner of Development Kishtwar (now retired), Mohd. Yasin Mir, retired BDO, Chet Singh, a former Junior Assistant at the BDO office Drabshalla, and Khalid Hussain, for offences under Sections 5(1)(b) along with 5(2) of the JKPC Act, 467/468/471/120-B RPC.” The Special Judge specified.
It is notable that the FIR against the accused was filed on 03/08/2012 at the Police Station Vigilance Organization, with the challan submitted to the court on 26/04/2019.