Dishonest, fraudulent SKIMS, revenue officials ‘mutilate’ records: Vigilance

‘SKIMS Land Scam’

Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK) Tuesday registered a case under Prevention of Corruption Act against Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and Department of Revenue officials.

The case was registered in connection with embezzlement complaint, based on a letter from Estates officer of SKIMS.

On a complaint lodged by the Estate Officer SKIMS with the Commission against successors/legal heirs of late Malla Sultan R/O Bohlichipora, Soura, Srinagar, who allegedly obtained compensation twice for same portion of land bearing Khasra No. 435 min at Zoonimer, Srinagar, in the years 1982 and 2013, through District Collector Srinagar. Inflicting a loss of Rs 64.88 lakhs to the State Exchequer, the State Vigilance Commission had an ordered enquiry.

The Estates officer SKIMS had addressed a letter to Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and had also sent a copy to Vigilance Organization Jammu and Kashmir on August 7, 2015. Months after the complaint, the vigilance department registered a case against officers/officials SKIMS/ Revenue and beneficiaries regarding the double payment to the land.

According to the VOK statement issued here, it said that “dishonestly, fraudulently and by mutilating the relevant records by the officials of SKIMS in connivance with the concerned Revenue Officers and the beneficiaries in the year 2013, the case resulted in conferment of undue benefit on the beneficiaries with the corresponding loss to the state exchequer.’

In the letter written by the Estates officer, (Number SIM-229/Estt/Land/2015-2013-2109) the officer alleges that the beneficiary of land of Estate Zonnimar was compensated against the acquisition of the land way back in June 1982 through district Collector Land Acquisition Srinagar.

The letter further reveals that successors of late Malla Sultan (beneficiary) have in active league and connivance with Revenue officers/officials again processed and obtained the compensation for the said land through District Collector land Acquisition in the year 2013, as such double payment for the same piece of land.

FIR No. 08/2016 under section 5(2) J&K P.C. Act Svt.2006 and sections 120-B, 467, 468 and 471 RPC in Police Station Vigilance Organization Kashmir was registered against Officers/Officials SKIMS/

Earlier, in the month of February, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon had appointed Additional Commissioner Kashmir as an inquiry officer.

Director SKIMS, Dr Showkat Ahmad Zargar told that he had sent about a 25 page correspondence data to the concerned authorities, a couple of days back.

When the SKIMS authorities came to know about the issue, they had tried to persuade Malla who denied all allegations.  Dr Zargar said, “He is a dishonest person. When I got to know about it, I asked him to give us the money back. Keeping in view his large family, I thought it would be better if the matter was resolved then and there. However, he clearly denied that he was wrong. Now the law will take care of the matter.” Dr Zargar said that the accused would carry illegal acts like renting the house. “Illegalities would be carried out therein. We even sent the police there. They (Malla family) created a scene then,” Dr Zargar added. He said that a file was misplaced earlier. It revealed that Late Malla had taken the money. However, the file was deliberately kept hidden, he believes. “A file was misplaced. We found it just few days back. Somebody had probably kept it hidden. Who knows what all is still kept under the table,” said Dr Zargar.