Has the CBI Launched an FIR Against Revenue Officials for a Rs 42 Crore Fraud in Srinagar?

Srinagar, June 14 (NationPress) On Saturday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced the registration of an FIR against certain revenue officials from the Srinagar Deputy Commissioner’s office for allegedly embezzling government funds amounting to Rs 42 crore.

According to officials, the CBI Srinagar has initiated a significant case against personnel from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Srinagar, along with revenue officials and private individuals implicated in a multi-crore fraud concerning the distribution of flood relief following the catastrophic floods of 2014.

“FIR No. 04/2025 has been filed under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Svt. 2006 and 1988, amended by the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019) and the Ranbir Penal Code (Svt. 1989), specifically Sections 5(1)(d), 5(2), 13(1)(a), 13(2), 420, 120-B along with 318 BNS.

The case followed a meticulous verification process by the CBI, which uncovered substantial evidence of fraudulent activities and counterfeit documentation employed to secure government relief funds designated for flood-affected shopkeepers in Srinagar.

During the verification, it was discovered that the Accounts Section of the DC Office in Srinagar and related tehsil offices had deposited unspent flood relief funds amounting to between Rs 31.54 crore and Rs 42 crore into the Additional Treasury Tankipora Srinagar.

Investigations revealed that counterfeit applications were submitted in breach of guidelines set by the DC Office, presented by two fictitious associations, the Al-Falah Shopkeepers Association and the Flood Affected Coordination Committee Srinagar, claiming to represent 1,503 individuals who were allegedly non-insured flood-affected traders from Tehsil Central Shalteng.

No necessary affidavits or adequate verification accompanied these lists.

The inquiry disclosed that officials from the DC Office and Tehsil Office Central Shalteng colluded with brokers named Tariq Ahmad Malik and Tariq Ahmad Sheikh to fabricate a relief list using the names of 1,503 individuals, many of whom were reportedly from the same family.

These falsified lists were submitted to the government for relief distribution, and further verification confirmed that the claimed associations did not exist.

In a coordinated effort, a group of 401 traders from Tehsil North Srinagar had previously sought court intervention for flood relief.

Relying on the resulting court ruling, 24 out of the 1,503 fictitious traders filed another petition (WP No. 786/2022), with the rest following suit in WP No. 86/2024.

The High Court instructed the authorities to address their claims, prompting officials to submit falsified reports to justify the disbursal of Rs 13.79 crore among these individuals. An additional Rs 12 lakh was awarded to the first 24 petitioners.

Each of the 1,503 'claimants' reportedly received Rs 50,000 under the pretense of flood relief,” the report states.

Further investigations revealed that the attorney representing the 24 petitioners had eight close relatives among the beneficiaries, indicating his direct involvement in the conspiracy.

The scam led to a misappropriation of Rs 7.51 crore from the state exchequer. Findings indicated that the fabricated lists, court manipulations, and falsified reports were part of a broader conspiracy involving officials from the DC Office in Srinagar, revenue staff, brokers, and so-called beneficiaries. The agency has commenced a comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute all parties involved,” officials mentioned.