Srinagar, Jun 5 (NVI) :The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against former officials of the Horticulture Department, members of various committees and a private contractor for alleged corruption and procedural violations in development works carried out at Zawoora Garden in Srinagar, officials said on Friday.
The case was registered following a Joint Surprise Check conducted by the ACB into allegations of financial irregularities and abuse of official position in works executed under the Centre of Excellence project at Zawoora Garden, they said.
According to officials, the enquiry found prima facie evidence of irregularities in the tendering and execution of works. The notice inviting tender (NIT) was allegedly framed without adequate quality parameters and technical specifications, creating scope for arbitrary decision-making.
The enquiry further revealed that financial provisions incorporated in the tender were substantially higher than those envisaged in the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR), officials said.
They said the eligibility criteria relating to financial turnover were allegedly fixed at an unusually high level despite lower actual requirements, restricting fair competition and favouring a particular bidder.
The findings indicate prima facie abuse of official position, criminal misconduct and criminal conspiracy involving public servants and the beneficiary private firm, resulting in undue pecuniary advantage to the contractor and loss to the government exchequer, the officials said.
Following the findings, FIR No. 09/2026 was registered at ACB Police Station Srinagar under relevant provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code.
Those named in the case include the then Director Horticulture Kashmir, members of the District Level Purchase Committee (DLPC), members of the Inspection Committee, contractor M/s Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt Ltd and other persons involved, officials said.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the role of all those involved and take appropriate legal action, they added.(NVI)
