SRINAGAR: Crime Branch Kashmir has produced a charge sheet against former BOPEE chairman, Mushtaq Ahmad Peer before the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption here in Srinagar.
Peer was earlier in 2018 convicted by a local court here in paper sale case. In a statement issued here, the Crime Branch Kashmir said that it produced the Charge-Sheet in case FIR No. 42/2017 U/S 420, 409-RPC r/w 5(2) PC Act of Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir against Mushtaq Ahmad Peer (the then Chairman BOPEE) before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Srinagar.
Peer as Chairman BOPEE between 2009 to 2012, transferred Government money amounting to RS. 2.73 crores into his personal bank account with the object that the same will be utilized for various official activities. The CB said that the accused person with a criminal intent put the money to his use by investing in smart saver accounts, raising cash certificates and liquidating his personal loan. “During the investigation, it has been established that the accused person in violation of BOPEE Act and Financial rules in vogue, has misappropriated Rs 1, 15, 40,153. Besides, an Rs 3, 49, 352 as interest accrued on Smart Savers/ Cash Certificates were also misappropriated by the accused person by abusing his official position, as Chairman BOPEE,” the statement said.
The CB said that the accused person was also convicted by Court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption, Srinagar in Case FIR No. 24/2013 U/S 420, 406, 201, 120-B-RPC, r/w 5(1)(d), 5(2) PC Act of Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir, vide judgement dated 25.04.2018. In 2018, a local Court convicted Peer, and 42 others in infamous paper sale scam. He was awarded 16 year jail term and a penalty of Rs one Crore for committing the offence under Prevention of Corruption Act and was arrested.
Peer was earlier arrested on November 23, 2013 by the Crime Branch after the investigation revealed that he had sold the CET-2012 papers along with answer keys for Rs 60 lakhs. He was charge-sheeted along with more than 50 other accused.
Court had held that Peer, being at the helm of affairs as Chairman of the Board, occupied the top position which he has abused to the fullest by orchestrating the criminal conspiracy for putting on sale the question papers, the secrecy of which he was under obligation to maintain.
