The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered an FIR against Ashiq Hussain Rather, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) posted at the Chhatroo Hydraulic Sub-Division in Kishtwar, for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The case was registered at the Doda ACB Police Station under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a verification by the ACB Doda-Kishtwar Range.

What the Allegations Cover

According to the ACB, Rather allegedly accumulated substantial assets in his own name as well as in the names of his family members. These reportedly include a five-storey residential house on Doda Court Road, land purchased at Udrana village in Bhaderwah tehsil, and property at Sunjawan village in Jammu. Investigators also flagged significant bank balances, fixed deposits, costly electronic gadgets, and jewellery as part of the disproportionate wealth.

'The value of assets acquired by the suspect has been found disproportionate to the income earned by him from all known sources, indicating that he has intentionally enriched himself illicitly during his service period,' officials said.

Searches Conducted Across Doda and Kishtwar

Following court-issued warrants from a competent court, ACB teams conducted searches at the residential and official premises of the accused across Doda and Kishtwar. The searches were carried out in the presence of Magistrates and independent witnesses, in line with standard procedure under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is currently underway.

About the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau

The J&K ACB functions as the primary law enforcement body for probing corruption, bribery, and disproportionate assets among public servants in the Union Territory. It operates under the direct administrative oversight of the J&K Lieutenant Governor and has jurisdiction over both civil officials and elected representatives. The bureau is empowered to attach assets, seize incriminating documents, and conduct trap operations to catch public servants accepting bribes. Upon completing investigations, it forwards case diaries to the government for prosecution sanction and files charge sheets before designated Anti-Corruption Courts.

What Happens Next

With the FIR now registered and searches completed, the ACB is expected to collate all seized evidence before forwarding a final case diary for prosecution sanction. This case is part of a broader pattern of ACB action in the Doda-Kishtwar Range, where the bureau has been actively pursuing disproportionate assets cases against government employees in recent months.