The arrest of two senior officials from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) on corruption charges has exposed a web of financial irregularities, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) indicating that further arrests and raids are likely as the investigation deepens.
Executive Engineer Zahoor Dar and Chief Financial Officer Sajid Yousuf Bhat were detained following revelations of dubious financial transactions.
Investigators have traced these transactions to accounts linked to relatives and associates of the arrested officials, suggesting a broader network of individuals profiting from the misappropriation of public funds.
Sources within the ACB revealed that the probe is uncovering how funds allocated for public projects were embezzled.
The focus has turned to contracts awarded for “beautification” projects in Srinagar, some of which caused significant public inconvenience and sparked backlash.
Several initiatives led to road blockages and were later reversed following complaints, but not before substantial sums had been spent.
“These beautification projects appear to have been used as a front for embezzlement,” an ACB source stated, adding that investigators are working to identify all beneficiaries of these contracts.
The investigation has already implicated additional individuals, some of whom are believed to be close associates or relatives of the arrested officials.
The ACB has pledged a thorough and unbiased investigation, with further arrests expected as evidence emerges.
Public dissatisfaction with the outcomes of these projects has amplified calls for accountability, with the ongoing probe shining a spotlight on the alleged misuse of public funds intended for the development of Srinagar. (KNT)