(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) SRINAGAR — A Central Bureau of Investigation court on Friday framed charges against an official of CPWD in a case related to disproportionate assets estimated to be around Rs. 39 lakhs.

The CBI had filed charge sheet against Ramesh Krishen, Upper Division Clerk/UDC (Auditor) CPWD, Srinagar Central Division, Humhama here in a case registered on 22 March last year for commission of offence under section 5(2) read with section 5(1)(e) Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 on the basis of written complaint. It was alleged that the accused was prima­facie found in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 39.38 Lakhs. In the complaint, it was alleged that the accused joined Central Electrical Division CPWD, Jammu in the month of April, 1991 as Lower Division Clerk (LDC) and joined CPWD, Branch Srinagar in 2017 as Upper Division Clerk (UDC).

A case under FIR No. RC1(A)/2018 was registered against the accused on 08-­02-­2018, when he was allegedly caught red handed while demanding and accepting tainted amount of Rs. 70,000 from the complainant. During the investigation, the search was carried out in his office and residential premises at Srinagar and cash amount of Rs. 84,000 was recovered, the CBI had said.

'Search was also carried out at his residential house No. 104/2 Vijay Nagar Talab Tillo Jammu and huge investments were recovered in the form of FD, KVP,NSC and ca A Locker key of State Bank of India Branch Talab Tillo Jammu was also recovered and was operated on 23­02­2018 in the presence of independent and huge quantity of gold and silver ornaments amounting to Rs. 14,85,537/­ was found

in the locker of the accused, who could not give any plausible justification for purchase/possession of such a huge quantity of golden ornaments.'

The CBI said it was found that most of the investments were made from the year 2010 onwards and the check period was taken from 01­04­2010 to 08­02­2012. 'After collecting the documentary evidence regarding the income, expenditure and assets of the accused, the disproportionate assets was found to be more than Rs. 39.00 Lakhs against the known sources of income.'

The CBI said evidence regarding the income, assets and expenditure of the accused was collected during the investigation from the concerned quarters which revealed that the assets worth Rs. 4,56,507 which include the bank balance, fixed deposits and gold were found in the possession of the accused at the beginning of check period (01-­01-­2007).

'The material on the record at this stage is sufficient to frame charge for the offence punishable under Section 5(2) read with Section 5(1)(e) Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, which is triable by this court and can be adequately punished,' said M.S. Parihar, Spl. Judge Anti­Corruption (CBI Cases) Kashmir, Srinagar. 'Accordingly, the charge for commission of offence under Section 5(2) read with section 5(1)(e) Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 is framed against the accused,' the court added.

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