STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir has initiated a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2020 recruitment process for Fireman and Fireman Driver posts in the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department, following complaints from aggrieved aspirants.
Based on the preliminary verification conducted by Police Station Central ACB J&K, several irregularities were found, including the wrongful selection of candidates, an ACB official said.
Consequently, a formal FIR No. 01/2025 was registered at P/S Central ACB J&K on January 1, 2025, official said and added, “The case involves multiple layers of alleged corruption that require in-depth and meticulous investigation, which is both complex and time-consuming.”
According to ACB officials, several factors are contributing to the delay in the completion of the investigation. One major task is the identification of wrongly selected candidates and the examination of their bank transaction history to trace the money trail. This step is crucial to establishing their involvement and linkage in the scam.
Another important aspect of the probe is the identification of touts and middlemen through whom money may have been routed. Investigators are also reviewing the financial transactions of these individuals to trace the forward money trail that could help uncover higher-level beneficiaries in the recruitment fraud.
The recruitment process under scrutiny was large-scale, involving the selection of around 700 candidates, and hence requires the scrutiny of a vast amount of records. Each document and transaction is being carefully examined to identify the modus operandi, the extent of the malpractice, and the individuals responsible.
Despite the challenges and volume of work involved, the Anti-Corruption Bureau is vigorously pursuing the investigation. Authorities have assured the public, especially the aggrieved aspirants, that they are fully committed to ensuring justice and will leave no stone unturned in exposing the irregularities and punishing those involved.
The ACB has called for patience and cooperation, emphasizing that the ongoing efforts are directed at a transparent and fair conclusion to one of the most significant recruitment-related corruption cases in the union territory.
