STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The State Vigilance Organisation, Jammu on Monday arrested Kewal Sharma alias Kewal Guard, PRO to Ex Dy Chief Minister for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income and for seeking job as Guard in the Forest Department on fake qualification certificates.
Director State Vigilance Organisation IGP Munir Khan said, “During custodial interrogation, more details are expected from him. He has been held for having accumulated huge assets in the shape of commercial and luxury vehicles and immoveable properties in the shape of residential houses in and outside the State worth crores of rupees.”
FIR 32/2015 under Section 5 (1) (e) read with 5 (2) PC Act 2006 was registered against Kewal Sharma, son of Gian Chand Sharma, resident of Kachrial, Tehsil Khour at present Patta Paloura, Near Petrol Pump, Jammu for accumulation of huge assets.
Further, the documents regarding qualification on the basis of which he has been appointed have also been found to be fake for which separate FIR. 20/2016 P/S VOJ is also under investigation.
During investigation it has been found that the accused has managed to open bank accounts on fake documents and deposited crores of rupees and the money has been utilised for raising of assets held by the accused.
Since the accused was not co-operating and divulging the facts as to how he had managed the opening of account on fake documents and the source of these documents, details of properties purchased outside the State, the source of fake and fabricated documents used for getting government job, he has been taken into custody for questioning.
The accused has been formally arrested and after medical examination lodged in custody. Further investigation into the case has been set in motion.
On 19th September, 2015, the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) had unearthed huge wealth amassed by Sharma, including four palatial bungalows, plots, several luxury vehicles, cash worth Rs 10 lakh and Rs 4 crore worth banking transactions carried out during 2013-14, when he was working as PRO to then Dy CM.
The revelations by the Vigilance Organisation also revealed that Kewal had visited several foreign countries when he was in ‘power’ in violation of service conduct rules and norms. This has given rise to the speculations that he might have deposited black money in some foreign banks too.
The Vigilance Organisation had found that Kewal Krishan was in possession of one double storey palatial bungalow at Patta Paloura, Jammu, where he was presently residing, another residential house at Border Migrant Colony at Paluwan, Akhnoor, a house at his ancestral village of Dhangar, Kachrial in Akhnoor. He has also renovated and extended his ancestral house at village Kachrial and 17 Marlas land in Khasra No. 1312 at Patta Paloura, Jammu.
On 22nd January, 2016, the Vigilance conducted fresh raids and seized a mini bus (JK02 BD 5241), a JCB and a tractor trolley while three luxury cars, two Volvo buses are still to be traced.
Kewal was given security cover by district police besides a four-men guard at his residence. This unauthorized security cover was withdrawn last year on court directions in a case filed by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel.
