ACB files 4th chargesheet against former EO MC Sumbal, 3 others in DA case

STATE TIMES NEWS

BARAMULLA: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has presented the fourth chargesheet against Abdul Rashid Shah, the then Executive Officer of Municipal Committees Sumbal, Hajin and Bandipora, along with three co-accused before the Court of the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Baramulla in connection with a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case.
According to an ACB official, the case originated from a complaint lodged by Mohd Yosuf, a resident of Sumbal, who alleged multiple instances of corruption, illegal and fraudulent appointments, and accumulation of disproportionate assets by the accused officer and his nephew Javid Ahmad Shah.
“On receipt of the complaint and other inputs, a secret verification was conducted which revealed serious irregularities and corruption allegations. Consequently, four different cases were registered against the accused Abdul Rashid Shah, including three separate cases of illegal and fraudulent appointments in Municipal Committees Sumbal, Hajin and Bandipora,” an ACB official said. Two separate cases were also registered against his nephew Javid Ahmad Shah for fraudulent mutation and disproportionate assets.
The official further stated that investigations in the three cases related to illegal appointments have already been completed and chargesheets have been filed before the court against the accused and other involved persons.
During the investigation of the disproportionate assets case (FIR No. 09/2013), the ACB found that the accused public servant had allegedly accumulated assets far beyond his known sources of income during the check period. These assets include construction of a double-storeyed residential house at Papchan Bandipora on ancestral land along with additional accommodation, purchase of multiple land parcels at Papchan and Takiyabal in Bandipora district, and acquisition of a double-storeyed house at Gazaliabad HMT in Srinagar.
Investigators also found that the accused had purchased a triple-storeyed shopping complex in Bandipora and several plots of land in Sidhra, some of which were registered in the name of his wife Afroza Bano. In addition, the accused allegedly purchased an A-Star Maruti car during the check period.
During house searches conducted by ACB officials, several expensive household items were recovered, including electronic appliances, cameras, inverter systems, refrigerators, washing machines, computers, pashmina shawls and other valuables. The investigation also revealed bank balances in accounts maintained at Jammu and Kashmir Bank, J&K Grameen Bank branches at Bandipora and Nadihal, and Punjab National Bank in Srinagar.
Further scrutiny also revealed expenditures made on the purchase of gold ornaments from a jewellery shop in Nowhata Srinagar, renovation of residential houses, education of children, fixed deposits and other services.
Upon completion of the investigation, the ACB filed the chargesheet against Abdul Rashid Shah for offences punishable under Section 5(1)(e) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 (Svt.), along with provisions of the Public Men and Public Servants (Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions) Act, 1983 and Section 109 of the Ranbir Penal Code. Charges were also framed against the co-accused Afroza Bano, Saif Ud Din Baba, and Sameer Ahsan Shah under Section 109 of the RPC for abetment.
The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for April 28, 2026, the ACB official added.