JAMMU: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) on Tuesday arrested the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jammu And Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and the then Enforcement Officer, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) from Jammu who is presently posted as DySP in JKAP 13th Bn for their involvement in two separate FIRs registered against them for alleged misappropriation of funds and allowing illegal constructions respectively.
Here it is relevant to mention that three FIRs were registered against Dy SP Shah Skinder Khan, who was posted as Enforcement Officer LAWDA in 2015. Besides two FIRs of illegal construction, a case for possessing assets disproportionate to income was also registered against him 2015, the investigation of which is still pending.
Director SVO Muneer Khan told STATE TIMES that Shafqat Sultan, CEO JAKEDA was arrested after an investigation found him guilty in buying solar lights at exorbitant rates, thereby causing loss to the State exchequer.
The Vigilance had registered FIR 10/2015 under section 5(1)(D) read with 5(2) J&K P.C.Act, 109,120B RPC against Shafat Sultan CEO JKEDA.
Accused Shafqat Sultan during the year 2009-10 as CEO JAKEDA had indulged in bungling while procurement of Solar Home Lighting Systems. The investigation carried out so far has revealed that the accused has placed supply order for procurement of 6872 Nos. of SHLs from BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) at exorbitant rates despite cheaper options were available.
CEO Shafat Sultan was arrested after questioning. Sources informed that the SVO is reportedly summoning Dr Arun Kumar also for questioning as he was Chairman of Purchasing Committee when CEO Shafat Sultan placed orders at exorbitant rates for supply of solar lights. The SVO has also sent teams to nab contactor Javed Kanth, sources said, adding more arrests of government officers are likely to be made within days.
Vigilance investigation has revealed that the CEO Shafqat Sultan had placed this order only five days before the period of rate contract was ending and also the quotations for new rate contract had already been opened by DGSD on 29-July 2009, which were available on their website, in which the unit rate of HSLs had been offered at much lower cost, thereby causing huge loss to the state exchequer.
The investigation has thus revealed that the Shafqat Sultan knowingly and with malified intentions had placed the said order to BEL at exorbitant rates thereby causing loss of Rs. 1,493 per unit, which when worked out for 6872 units of SHLs is over Rs 1,02,59,896-.
Further investigation into the matter is going on and Vigilance is working on the involvement of other accused officers and contractors in the case, said Director SVO said.
Meanwhile, DySP Khan has been arrested in connection with investigation of case FIR 53/2015 registered under section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) PC Act sec-120B RPC for allowing illegal constructions.
Two more cases under FIR 52/15 and 54/15 pertaining to abuse of official position and accumulation of disproportionate assets are also registered against the accused DySP. Investigation of all the three cases against the accused has been set in motion.