Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched a formal investigation into a significant corruption case involving multiple individuals, including ‘Mohd Sharief Choudhary, the former Director of Tribal Affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, and Muzaffar Hussain Wani, the former Assistant Director’.
In a statement issued to news agency KINS, the ACP said, “The case, registered under FIR No. 05/2024, also names several other officials from the Tribal Affairs Department and the proprietors of computer institutes in Rajouri and Poonch.This action follows a verification conducted by the ACB, which investigated allegations that the Directorate of Tribal Affairs J&K violated guidelines while implementing the Government of India-sponsored Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. The inquiry revealed that substantial funds—totaling approximately Rs. 1,66,20,000—were disbursed to unrecognized institutes for unauthorized courses between 2014 and 2018”.
“The Post Matric Scholarship Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to ST students for their education, offering a scholarship of Rs. 18,000 per student, plus a Rs. 2,300 maintenance allowance. However, officials of the Tribal Affairs Department failed to verify the legitimacy of the institutes or the appropriateness of the courses offered, leading to improper disbursement of scholarship funds”.
“The investigation revealed that one of the institutes, M/S NESSOW Institute, lacked proper accreditation from NIELIT or any recognized body, yet received Rs. 33,30,000 in scholarship funds. The other institutes, while accredited, did not conduct examinations through NIELIT and instead issued their own certificates, undermining the scholarship’s purpose”.
The ACB has determined that the actions of these officials and beneficiaries constitute a conspiracy to misappropriate government funds, which are punishable under Sections 5(1)(c)(d) and 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, as well as Section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). The investigation is currently ongoing.
