Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said to have registered a case against the then Incharge Mid-Day meal, Zone Mawar, Langate for misappropriation and embezzlement of MDM funds.
A statement issued to the media, ACB said that a preliminary enquiry was conducted by J&K ACB to look into the allegation that accused public servant namely Abdul Rashid Dar, the then Mid-day-Meal incharge at ZEO office Mawar, son of Abdul Gani of Shanoo Langate, District Kupwara in league with officers and officials of the Zone illegally & fraudulently credited Lakhs of rupees meant for MDM to his own account in J&K Bank Qalamabad and misappropriated same etc.
“The probe conducted has revealed that National Programme of Nutritional Support to Education (popularly known as Mid Day Meal Scheme) was launched across country and in the J&K State in September 2004 with an objective to give a boost to Universalization of Primary Education by increasing enrollment, retention and attendance,” the statement said.
The programme has been universalized in J&K & at gross root level, the scheme is being implemented under the supervision of PRIs, School Management Committees & Village Education Committees, it reads.
“The food grains are lifted from the FCI by the Directors of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department on behalf of the Education Department .Necessary expenses on account of implementation of the Mid-day Meal Scheme were being met out of the funds in the ratio of 90:10 as Central Share and State Share. The probe conducted also reveal that during the year 2017, to 2019, an amount of Rs 73,66,335 was allotted by the Govt. through Chief Education Officer Kupwara vide different orders to then ZEO’s of Education Zone Mawar Langate under Mid-day meal scheme. On receipt of funds the then MDM incharge Zone Mawar Abdul Rashid Dar S/o Abdul Gani R/o Shanoo Langate District Kupwara dishonestly and fraudulently managed to transfer an excess amount of Rs 7,07,495/- into official accounts of 14 schools covered under MDM Scheme in Education Zone Mawar District Kupwara,” the statement reads.
The accused managed the release of excess payment in favour of schools by resorting to escalation of amount in different advices and later on received the amount back from MDM incharges of schools in cash on pretext of depositing it back into the official account but instead misappropriated & embezzled same, it added.
Accordingly on the culmination of preliminary enquiry a case under FIR number 14-2024 U/S 5(1) (c), 5(1) (d) r/w section 5(2) of JK PC Act Svt. 2006 was registered at P/S ACB Baramulla against the accused public servant Abdul Rashid Dar S/o Abdul Gani R/o Shanoo Langate District Kupwara the then incharge Midday Meal Education Zone Mawar District Kupwara and investigations were set into motion, it reads.
Immediately after registration of case search warrants were obtained from the court & in pursuance to which searches are being conducted simultaneously at three different locations in Handwara in presence of executive magistrates & independent witnesses. Further investigations are going on, the statement reads