Srinagar: Three officers from JK’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), who were investigating corruption in Srinagar’s Smart Cities Mission project, were transferred to the home department. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called the move “punishing the whistleblower.”
One of the officers, SP Abdul Wahid Shah, had earlier held a press conference exposing irregularities. He claimed that two officials from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) were found with assets far beyond their known income. The ACB had filed a corruption case and searched seven locations.
Investigations revealed possible misuse of materials like stones, tiles, and iron grills, which were allegedly sold instead of being used for the project. It also found that substandard materials were used in some ongoing works.
Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticised the transfers, saying it showed a lack of government accountability. She accused the authorities of using agencies to target Kashmiris under the pretense of corruption investigations.
The National Conference (NC) also questioned the project’s handling. MLA Salman Sagar said the party had concerns about the project from the start and found its execution suspicious.
The Smart Cities Mission project in Srinagar, launched in 2017, is managed by SSCL, which includes senior officials like the divisional commissioner and inspector general of police on its board.
On January 16, the government replaced the three ACB officers with new ones, raising concerns about transparency in the ongoing corruption investigations.
