JE arrested for Rs 2.67-cr fraud

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 15

The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a junior engineer, Hakeem Imtiyaz, of the Roads and Building Department for allegedly siphoning off over Rs 2.67 crore from cellular companies, which the latter had paid as penalty for damaging roads while laying telephone cables.

A spokesman for the Anti-Corruption Bureau said the case was registered during the verification on the allegations of the misappropriation of funds received by the Roads and Building Department in Shopian/ Handwara districts.

“It surfaced during the verification conducted prior to the registration of the case that Rs 2.67 crore was deposited by the private cellular companies in the Arhama Shopian branch of Axis Bank under the fake name of the assistant engineer, R&B division, Shopian, opened by junior engineer Hakeem Imtiyaz posted at R&B Shopian in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy with Airtel/Reliance authorities and contractors,” the spokesman said.

The said amount, he said, was subsequently withdrawn by Hakeem Imtiyaz and transferred into his own account and into the account of one Niamat Ali.

“It was found that the Roads and Building Department Shopian does not have any account in Axis Bank, and the said department operated only through J&K Bank. It also came to light that these fraudulent transactions have been the handiwork of the junior engineer, who was in deal with the companies and contractors,” he said.