ACB books five FCS&CA Officials, nine FPS Dealers in ₹5.57-Crore food grain embezzlement case

Massive shortages detected during verification at Lountha Granary and Fair Price Shops in Karnah; searches underway

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has registered an FIR against five officials of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department and nine Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers for their alleged involvement in a large-scale embezzlement and misappropriation of government food grains in the Karnah area of Kupwara district.

According to the ACB, FIR No. 02/2026 has been registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla under Section 13(1)(a) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended), and Sections 61(2) and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, after obtaining prior approval from the competent authority, the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The case originated from a communication received from the Director, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, Kashmir, seeking criminal action against the concerned officials and FPS dealers after departmental inspections and physical verification revealed massive shortages of government food grains.A Joint Surprise Check conducted at Government Sale Centres and Fair Price Shops initially detected a shortage of 4,175.89 quintals of rice at Lountha Granary, Karnah, Kupwara.

Subsequently, a comprehensive physical verification carried out by a departmental Sub-Committee, followed by a detailed verification conducted by the ACB, reportedly uncovered substantial shortages at various Government Sale Centres and Fair Price Shops falling under Tangdhar, Karnah-A and Karnah-B Circles of Kupwara district.

According to the ACB, the verification established a loss to the Government exchequer amounting to ₹5,57,18,657.25 (approximately ₹5.57 crore). The Bureau alleged that the loss resulted from a well-orchestrated criminal conspiracy involving public servants and private beneficiaries who dishonestly misappropriated government food grains entrusted to them by abusing their official positions for unlawful pecuniary gain, thereby causing substantial financial loss to the Government.

Based on the material collected during the verification, the ACB registered the FIR against the accused public servants and FPS dealers for offences relating to criminal misconduct, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of government food grains and criminal conspiracy.The case, inter alia, involves Umar Bashir alias Raja Umer, then Assistant Storekeeper, Ashiq Hussain Mir, then Assistant Storekeeper, along with twelve other accused comprising public servants and Fair Price Shop dealers.

Immediately after registration of the case, searches were launched at multiple locations and other legal proceedings were initiated in accordance with law. The investigation is in progress.The Anti-Corruption Bureau reiterated its commitment to combating corruption and safeguarding public resources. It also appealed to the general public to actively support the fight against corruption by reporting instances of corrupt practices through the ACB Helpline or its official e-mail.