Srinagar, July 3 (ANB): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against the former Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Tangdhar, Kupwara, and three other officials in a case related to the misappropriation of scholarship funds intended for Pahari-speaking and Gujjar-Bakerwal students during the year 2010-11. According to an official statement, following credible information regarding fraudulent disbursement of scholarship funds in Education Zone Tangdhar, a preliminary verification was conducted by the erstwhile Vigilance Organization Kashmir (now ACB Kashmir). The probe revealed that then ZEO Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, along with then dealing clerk Mohammad Ashraf Paswal and others, conspired to inflate the number of beneficiaries. The accused allegedly abused their official positions to dishonestly procure excess funds from the Chief Education Officer Kupwara, which were subsequently embezzled. According to news service, associated news bureau, anb, The case was formally registered under FIR No. 32/2018 at Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir under sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006, along with sections 468, 471, and 120-B of the RPC. The investigation established that four officials — Mohammad Ashraf Bhat (then ZEO), Mohammad Ashraf Paswal (then Junior Assistant), Razia Bano (then Junior Assistant), and Shafiqa Rafiq (then Zonal Gender Coordinator) — conspired to insert fictitious names into the scholarship disbursement registers. These fabricated entries enabled the accused to divert Rs 8,30,200 meant for deserving students, resulting in significant loss to the state exchequer.Further investigation revealed that over 600 fake Pahari-speaking students and more than 150 fictitious Gujjar-Bakerwal students were listed in the registers. Associated news service, associated news bureau, ANB, Funds were withdrawn in their names and misappropriated by the accused. According to news service, associated news bureau, anb, The accused also allegedly misled then MLA Tangdhar and a Member of the Advisory Board into signing utilization certificates and expenditure statements, falsely claiming that the scholarships had been distributed to genuine students. One of the accused, Mohammad Ashraf Paswal, was found to have deposited ₹5,00,000 directly into his personal account at J&K Bank Branch Tangdhar, which he later withdrew in ten instalments of ₹50,000 each. He is also facing trial in a separate case concerning disproportionate assets. After securing the necessary prosecution sanction, ACB filed the chargesheet before the Hon’ble Additional Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla. All four accused appeared in court in custody and were later released on personal bonds.The court has scheduled the next hearing of the case for September 10, 2025. ANB
