STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday registered an FIR against Shabnam Arif Mir, the former Assistant Director Employment, for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes in connection with the Mumkin scheme.
The investigations revealed serious allegations of corruption involving Shabnam Arif Mir and officials from Himalayan Motors Tengpora Bypass, Srinagar.
The ACB launched a verification probe to investigate claims that Shabnam Arif Mir, who served as the Nodal Officer for the Mumkin scheme in Bandipora and Kupwara districts during 2021-2022, solicited bribes from representatives of Himalayan Motors.
The Mumkin scheme, which aims to support youth by facilitating vehicle loans for self-employment, required Mir to recommend vehicle applications for eligible candidates to the District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) after verifying their credentials.
However, the ACB probe found that Mir allegedly exploited her position by demanding Rs 10,000 per vehicle as a bribe from Himalayan Motors officials for processing and prioritizing their vehicles under the scheme. The investigation revealed that officials of Himalayan Motors, with the approval of General Manager Sumeer Pandita and Managing Director Junaid Bashir Beigh, complied with these demands.
They reportedly paid the bribe to Mir in exchange for preferential treatment over other dealers, submitting proforma bills and making fixed payments to secure approvals.
The investigation further uncovered evidence that Mir accepted bribes totaling Rs 4,00,000 from a sales consultant at Himalayan Motors, including Rs 1,39,000 received through e-transactions to bank accounts provided by her. These transactions and the payment of bribes were made to ensure that Himalayan Motors’ vehicles were given priority in the scheme.
Following the verification, the ACB registered FIR No. 15/2024 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at the Police Station ACB Baramulla.
The accused include Shabnam Arif Mir, former Assistant Director Employment and Nodal Officer for Bandipora and Kupwara; Sumeer Pandita, the then General Manager; and Junaid Bashir Beigh, the then Managing Director of Himalayan Motors.
Immediately after the FIR was filed, multiple ACB teams conducted searches at various locations in Bandipora, Kupwara, and Srinagar. The raids resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents that are expected to aid in the ongoing investigation. Authorities are currently examining the roles of additional individuals who may be implicated in the corruption scheme.
