ACB files case against former Director Tribal Affairs, others over…

Srinagar, Oct 09: Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against officials including former director of Tribal Affairs department over misappropriation of funds worth crores, thereby causing huge loss to government exchequer.In a statement, issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the case has been filed against Mohd Sharief Choudhary, then Director Tribal Affairs J&K, Muzaffar Hussain Wani, then Assistant Director, Gulzar Hussain, then Junior Assistant, Javed Ahmed, then Incharge Computer Assistant, Shaheen Naqishbandi, then head assistant and other officers/officials of Tribal Affairs Department J&K, Mohd. Javaid (owner of M/S National Computer Institute Surankot, Poonch & M/S Infotech Institute of Computers, Poonch), Mohd Farooq (owner of M/S Techno Park College of Professional Studies, Rajouri), Mohd Shakeel (owner of M/S M.S.Khan Computer Institute, Rajouri), Muddasir Ahmed (owner of M/S NESSOW Institute Surankot Poonch vide FIR No. 05/2024 U/S 5(1)(c)(d) r/w section 5(2) of J&K PC Act, Svt. 2006 & section 120-B RPC ’on 09.10.2024.The statement reads that the instant case was registered on the outcome of a verification conducted by this bureau to look into the allegations that directorate of Tribal Affairs J&K while implementing post-matric scholarship sponsored scheme entitled for ST candidates, indulged in gross violation of guidelines and released crores of funds to unrecognised institutes for unrecognised courses etc.“The verification conducted revealed that the Government of India launched post-matric scholarship scheme to ST candidates to complete their education by way of providing financial assistance in the shape of scholarship amounting Rs 18,000/ per student plus Rs 2300 maintenance allowance,” it reads.It added that the objective behind the scholarship scheme was to provide financial assistance to ST students studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education and reimburse of compulsory fee to the students charged by recognized Institute.It further reads that the officials of the department without checking the genuineness of the institutes as well as infrastructure/course contents provided by institutes, even without ensuring the end use of scholarship amount and guidelines, disbursed the scholarship fee of about Rs. 1,66,20,000 during 2014 to 2018 directly in the bank accounts of the institutes namely M/S National Computer Institute, M/S NESSOW Institute, M/S Infotech Institute of I.tech Management, M/S Technopark College of professional & technical, and M/S M.S Khan Computer Institute.“The verification conducted further revealed that even one of the institutes namely M/S NESSOW computer institute was not having proper accreditation with NIELIT or other recognised body, but the department of disbursed the scholarship fees amounting Rs. 33,30,000 to this institute also. Whereas, the rest of four institutes having accreditation with NIELIT, have not got conducted the examination of the candidates through NIELIT, rather issued the course certificates by itself, having no value, thereby defeated the very purpose of post matric scholarship scheme.”