The Economic Offences Wing of the Kashmir’s Crime Branch’s chargesheet against seven persons for the misappropriation of government funds for the construction of school infrastructure in the district of Kupwara has been filed. The chargesheet was produced before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court in Baramulla on Saturday. Charges were framed against various officials in a web of fraud and conspiracy in the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.
The inquiry into this issue was set off when a complaint was lodged against the construction work undertaken at a primary school in the village of Hampora Kralgund. In all, more than 5.7 lakhs rupees had been released by the then Zonal Education Officer towards a comprehensive project that included the construction of a school building, kitchen block, toilet, and accessibility ramp. However, the actual work undertaken was quite different from what was planned.
According to officials, the accused bypassed mandatory SSA guidelines, which require such projects to be managed by local Village Education Committees. Instead, they allegedly conspired with a private contractor to divert the funds. The site plan was also unauthorisedly altered; rather than building the required separate facilities and a three-room block, a double-storey four-room structure was erected, effectively leaving the school without the essential kitchen and sanitation facilities for which the taxpayer had paid.
The case further alleges a deliberate failure by education officials to take possession of the site once the shell was completed. This lack of oversight reportedly allowed another individual to move into and illegally occupy the building. With the EOW now confident that it has gathered sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy and corruption, the matter has been moved to the courts for judicial determination.
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