Srinagar, Jan 17 (KNO): People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday questioned the government’s commitment to combating corruption, highlighting the ‘risks’ faced by officials who dare to challenge corruption.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), this comes after the government ordered the repatriation of three Superintendents of Police (SPs) from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to the Home Department, sparking a debate over the handling of corruption cases by officials.
Mehbooba wrote on social media website X: "The removal of Abdul Wahid & his colleagues from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) highlights the risks faced by officials who challenge corruption. It exposes nexus between the corrupt &most powerful.”
The move has been criticised as a brazen attempt to silence whistleblowers and protect powerful networks of corruption.
“This action of punishing the whistleblower has revealed the government's true intentions behind using various agencies including ACB to raid properties of Kashmiris under the guise of corruption investigations. Raises questions about the government's commitment to justice and accountability,” she added.
Notably, the repatriation comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the ACB into corruption allegations linked to the Srinagar Smart City Limited projects.
Executive Engineer Zahoor Dar and Chief Financial Officer Sajid Yousuf Bhat of Srinagar Smart City Limited were booked on corruption charges.
On Thursday, the government repatriated three JKPS officers from the ACB to the Home Department.
According to a government order, the three SPs—Abdul Wahid Shah (JKPS), Mohammad Rashid (JKPS), and Rakesh Kumar (JKPS)—have been repatriated from the ACB.
As per the order, Shiv Deep Singh Jamwal (JKPS), Manzoor Ahmad Mir (JKPS), and Mamta Sharma (JKPS) have been posted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K, with immediate effect—(KNO)