Srinagar, Sep 01 (KNO): Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said that it has registered a case against ARTO Kupwara, Motor Vehicle Inspectors and agent working in his office and conducted searches, stating that a cash worth Rs 15 lakh has been seized.
A surprise check was conducted by ACB into the allegation that ARTO Kupwara has planted one person namely Bilal Ahmad Sheikh of Vilgam Kupwara to run all the affairs of his office like travel test, replacement of driving license, fitness, learning license, audit approval, registration and print card for collecting money by illegal means.
“The joint surprise check was conducted at the site of the driving test (Nagri Kupwara) in association with Executive Magistrate 1st Class Handwara. During surprise check, the accused Bilal Ahmad Sheikh, son of Wali Mohammad Sheikh of Vilgam was found actively involved in conducting the driving tests with the officials of Assistant Regional Transport Office, Kupwara,” it said.
The statement said that the search of personal car of Bilal Ahmad Sheikh, son of Wali Mohammad Sheikh of Vilgam bearing registration number JK01R-4373 on spot at the site of driving test, led to the recovery of 138 original driving licenses besides various other incriminating material like provisional appointment slips for driving tests, application reference slips, application for addition of new class of vehicle, journey sheets of vehicles, transport plans, learners license, handwritten details regarding tests held on 04-08-2021etc.
Consequently, a case under FIR number 09/2021 has been registered in P/S ACB Baramulla under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 & section 120-B of Indian Penal Code against Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi (Assistant Regional Transport Officer Kupwara), Khursheed Ahmad Kanna (Motor Vehicle Inspector), Abdul Hamid Bhat (Motor Vehicle Inspector) and Bilal Ahmad Sheikh (private Agent) for improper performance of public duty in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy.
“During initial investigation, it came to the fore that there is a deep nexus among accused officers of the Transport Department and the private agents (brokers) to fleece the general public. To break this unholy nexus, ACB conducted searches of residential premises of Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi (ARTO Kupwara), son of Abdul Aziz Sofi at Nowshera Boniyar Baramulla and residential premises of Bilal Ahmad Sheikh (Agent), son of Wali Mohammad Sheikh at Vilgam Kupwara in pursuance to the warrants issued by Court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Baramulla,” it said.
During searches, Rs 15 lakh cash and various incriminating material having bearing on the case have been recovered, it said, adding that the investigation is going on.
