The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against multiple officials, including the former Director of the Tribal Affairs Department, for their involvement in a large-scale misappropriation of funds, causing substantial losses to the government exchequer. The case centers around the wrongful allocation of crores in scholarships meant for students from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community.
The ACB’s investigation targets Mohd Sharief Choudhary, former Director of Tribal Affairs J&K, and several other officials, including Muzaffar Hussain Wani (then Assistant Director), Gulzar Hussain (then Junior Assistant), Javed Ahmed (then Incharge Computer Assistant), and Shaheen Naqishbandi (then Head Assistant). Additionally, several private individuals associated with educational institutions have also been named, including Mohd. Javaid, owner of M/S National Computer Institute and M/S Infotech Institute of Computers, Poonch, and Mohd. Farooq, owner of M/S Techno Park College of Professional Studies, Rajouri, among others. The FIR No. 05/2024, registered under sections 5(1)(c)(d) and 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, and section 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, was filed following a verification process by the ACB. The inquiry revealed that between 2014 and 2018, the Directorate of Tribal Affairs disbursed around Rs 1.66 crore in post-matric scholarships to various unrecognized and unauthorized institutes, violating the established guidelines of the scheme.The Government of India’s post-matric scholarship scheme was designed to provide financial assistance to ST students for their education, offering Rs 18,000 per student along with a maintenance allowance of Rs 2,300. However, the officials failed to verify the authenticity of the institutions receiving the funds and disregarded the required guidelines, leading to substantial misappropriation of funds.
Among the questionable institutions, M/S NESSOW Computer Institute, which received ₹33.3 lakh, lacked accreditation from recognized bodies like NIELIT. Despite this, funds were disbursed. Other institutes that did possess NIELIT accreditation failed to conduct proper examinations for their students, issuing unverified course certificates, further undermining the legitimacy of the scholarship scheme.
The ACB stated that the officials, in criminal conspiracy with the institute owners, manipulated records and flouted guidelines, diverting scholarship funds and defeating the purpose of the scheme. The case has now been taken up for a full investigation.
