Srinagar, Sept 16: Directorate of Enforcement, Srinagar, has filed a Prosecution Complaint under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption CBI Cases, Kashmir, Srinagar.
The complaint was filed against Hakeem Imtiyaz (former Junior Engineer, R&B PW Shopian Division), Niamat Ali Bhat (a private civil contractor), Shahnawaz Shafi (former Circle Deployment Head, Airtel, J&K region), and Malik Mohsin Shah (former employee of Axis Bank, Arhama Branch, Shopian) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
The cognizance of the Prosecution Complaint has also been taken by the Special Court on the same date, it added.
The ED said it initiated investigation based on an FIR registered by ACB, J&K, Anantnag, under sections 5(1)(c), 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, and sections 420, 468, 471, 120-B of the RPC (parri materia to Sections 13(1)(c), 13(1)(d) read with 13(2) of the PC Act, 1988, and Sections 420, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860) against Hakeem Imtiyaz and Niamat Ali Bhat.
The case was registered by ACB following verification of allegations of misappropriation of funds belonging to Airtel and Reliance Jio, which had paid substantial amounts to the PWD, R&B Department, for damages caused to roads during the laying of telephone cables in the districts of Shopian and Handwara.
The ED’s investigation revealed that Hakeem Imtiyaz, in criminal conspiracy with others, including Niamat Ali, fraudulently obtained Rs 2.67 crore, claiming it for repairing property damaged during the laying of fibre-optic cables, the statement said. The funds were deposited into a bank account fraudulently opened in the name of “Assistant Engineer, PW (R&B) Division, Shopian”, with the apparent intent of siphoning off the money, the ED said.
Earlier, ED Srinagar attached movable property (a Maruti Wagon R) and immovable property (land measuring 1 Kanal, 3 Marlas at Chattabal, South District Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir), including a two-storey residential house built thereon, valued at Rs. 1.56 crore, in the possession of Niamat Ali Bhat.
Further investigation is in progress, the ED said.
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