Srinagar, Oct 9: Many sitting and former ministers and bureaucrats are facing graft charges in Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (SAC) and State Vigilance Organization (SVO), the Government told Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
There are corruption charges against 15 incumbent and former ministers. They include former Congress Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, former minister for Health and Medical Education, Suman Bhagat, the then MoS Health, AG Sofi, former R&B Minister Gulchain Singh Charak and former CAPD Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yasin. The sitting ministers facing graft charges are Abdul Rahim Rather, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed and Manohar Lal Sharma.
“Mangat Ram during his tenure as the then Industries and Commerce Minister made illegal appointments in the KVIB by misusing his official position. He was the Chairman of the Board then,” government said in written response to a question by a member of the House.
Bhagat the former minister for Health and Medical Education in connivance with her son who was her PRO and the then MoS Health, A G Sofi pressurized then Principal AMT School Srinagar to nominate 931 candidates.
“They were found to be guilty of corruption, nepotism and mal-administration,” government revealed.
Charak was found involved in misappropriation of money and misuse of his official position.
The allegation against Rather is regarding the opinion tendered by his department in respect of proposed payment to J&K Bank by the IT Department for preparation of Smart Cards.
Taj in his capacity as the then CAPD minister allotted the contract to various contractors for grinding of wheat for one year and later extended the benefit to only one contractor.
“He (Taj) misused his official position for causing wrongful loss to the State exchequer,” the reply said.
Hakeem Yasin, the former CAPD minister, was also alleged to be involved in the scam.
Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, the former education minister is facing corruption charges for using his influence to manage his foster son’s successful conduct of 12th class examination in connivance with the JK BOSE officials.
Sayeed is also facing corruption charges for misappropriation of government funds for electrification of Panchayat Ghars.
Manohar Lal Sharma, Minster for Cooperatives is facing charges for his involvement in bungling and embezzlement worth crores of rupees.
Though a notice was issued to the minister in the case, the High Court has stayed the proceedings.
The reply said the cases against the ministers are at the various stages of prosecution.
Former MLAs Sat Paul Lakhotra and Prem Lal, both from Jammu, are too facing corruption charges.
They are accused of duping people on the pretext of providing government jobs.
There are also cases pending against advisors to Chief Minister, Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Gujjars and Bakerwals, Bashir Ahmad Naz, Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans, Rachpal Singh, Vice Chairman State Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of Other Backward Classes, Kuldeep Raj Verma, Vice Chairpersons State Advisory Board for Development of Schedule Castes, Swarn Lata and Chairperson J&K State Commission for Women, Shamima Firdous.

BUREAUCRATS, SENIOR OFFICIALS
There are corruption charges against at least 80 senior officials including some bureaucrats (former and sitting) pending in the SAC. The cases are at various stages of investigation.
The accused include the then Secretary Rural Development, Mehboob Iqbal, the then Director Rural Development Department, Asgar Ali, the Chairman State Social Welfare Board Khem Lata Wakhloo, and former Managing Director Cooperative Housing Corporation Ltd, Jammu Brij Bhusan Sharma.
In reply to another query by MLA Chaman Lal Gupta government said 59 sitting and former bureaucrats are facing corruption charges in the SVO.
They include IAS and KAS officers as well. The SVO has lodged FIRs against at least 40 sitting and former officials, accused to be involved in graft cases.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Oct 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 9 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 IST