Searches conducted at his two residential premises; accused officer taken into custody for questioning
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a major action, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Police Station Srinagar has registered a case (FIR 20/2025) against a police officer, Inspector (M) Peer Zada Mushkoor Ahmad Shah, son of Peer Zada Mohammad Akber Shah, resident of Jawalapora, Budgam, for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The accused, serving as a Cashier at the District Police Office (DPO) Bandipora, has come under the scanner after a detailed verification revealed massive illicit wealth amassed in his and his family members’ names.
According to an ACB official, the case was registered following a secret verification that established that the officer had acquired both movable and immovable assets far beyond his legitimate income during his service period. “During the course of verification, it surfaced that the accused and his family members possessed huge assets, including prime landholdings and properties, which were not commensurate with their known sources of income,” the ACB official said.
The assets identified during the probe include land holdings measuring approximately 32 Kanals and 6 Marlas in District Budgam -about 17 Kanals and 14 Marlas at Shahpora Wathora. The accused is also said to own a luxurious double-storey residential house with an attic constructed on a purchased plot at Ompora Colony, Budgam.
“Further scrutiny of bank accounts revealed that the accused and his family members held deposits amounting to approximately Rs 48.26 lakh across various banks,” the official added. Multiple vehicles registered in the names of the accused and his family members were also traced. Additionally, the accused is believed to have spent around Rs 40 lakh on the education of his children in reputed institutions, along with significant expenses incurred on foreign travel and insurance premium payments.
The ACB official further revealed that examination of bank records indicated several suspicious transactions and unexplained cash inflows.
“It was found that the accused and his family were operating multiple bank accounts in different banks, through which large sums of money were routed. Several high-value immovable properties were also found acquired in the names of his wife and children,” the official said.
The assessment of the officer’s income vis-à-vis his expenditure between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2025 showed that his actual earnings were grossly insufficient to justify the wealth accumulated and the lifestyle maintained. “The findings clearly indicate that the accused has illicitly enriched himself by resorting to corrupt and dishonest means,” the ACB spokesperson stated.
Based on the findings, a formal case under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) has been registered against the accused for criminal misconduct and possession of disproportionate assets.
Following the registration of the FIR, and in compliance with a court order dated October 10, 2025, ACB teams conducted searches at two residential premises of the accused in District Budgam. “During the raids, several incriminating documents, property papers, and bank-related records were seized for further scrutiny,” the ACB official said.
The accused public servant has been taken into police custody for questioning in connection with the ongoing investigation. “Further investigation is in progress to ascertain the full extent of illegal wealth accumulated by the accused and to identify his associates and benami holders,” the official added.
The ACB reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in public services and assured that strict action will continue against corrupt officials irrespective of their rank or position.