Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 13 former officers for their alleged role in a multi-crore ration scam in Jammu district, officials revealed.
The scam, valued at Rs 19.20 crore, involved the misappropriation of 4.39 lakh quintals of ration intended for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries between 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006.
The case originated when the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) lodged an FIR following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), officials said.
The chargesheet names nine former Assistant Directors (ADs), two Chief Account Officers (CAOs), and two Tehsil Supply Officers (TSOs) as accused. The CAG report highlighted discrepancies in ration distribution, which were confirmed through departmental reconciliation.
An investigation led by four Deputy Superintendents of Police uncovered that the accused had shown inflated issuance of BPL and AAY food grains, far exceeding authorized amounts. The surplus was allegedly misappropriated for personal gain.
Among the 13 accused, seven have passed away, one has been granted bail, one surrendered in court, and four were arrested and produced before the court at the time of filing the chargesheet, officials said.
The Crime Branch had previously investigated a similar ration scam in 2004, which was also prosecuted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Crime Jammu, Benam Tosh, told PTI that the completion of the investigation is done. The chargesheet has been submitted to the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu for judicial.
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