Now Reading: ACB chargesheets 10 in Rs 7.12 lakh bridge scam in Kupwara
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ACB chargesheets 10 in Rs 7.12 lakh bridge scam in Kupwara
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday chargesheeted 10 persons, including two former executive engineers and a private contractor, for allegedly embezzling Rs 7.12 lakh in government materials and fraudulent release of a…
The Story in Brief
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday chargesheeted 10 persons, including two former executive engineers and a private contractor, for allegedly embezzling Rs 7.12 lakh in government materials and fraudulent release of a security deposit. The case relates to a steel bridge at Lastiyal-Kalaroose in Kupwara, awarded in September 2010. The contractor abandoned the project after partial work, leaving cement and steel worth Rs 5.63 lakh unaccounted for. The ACB also found a forged communication used to release Rs 73,000 in contractor deposits, and irregular release of Rs 81,400 in bill deposits despite outstanding liabilities. The nine public servants and one contractor were presented before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, and granted bail. The next hearing is on November 25, 2026.
The probe began after an open verification by the erstwhile Vigilance Organization Kashmir. The ACB said the total loss to the state exchequer was Rs 7,12,150, caused by the accused in connivance with the contractor.
The Indian Opinion
The ACB’s chargesheet in a Rs 7.12 lakh case from 2010 shows corruption is being pursued, but the small amount and 14-year delay invite cynicism. The narrative that 'only small fish are caught' is undercut by two former executive engineers among the accused. Yet the real test is whether the court, which set the next hearing for November 2026, will deliver a verdict within a reasonable time. Will the promise of accountability outpace the grind of the system?
Source: greaterkashmir.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
