||Black and White Digital News ||

||Parvinder Singh July 2, 2024||

The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered an FIR (No. 09/2024 PS ACB Jammu) under sections 13(1)(a) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and sections 120-B and 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This action targets Manju Sharma, a former Junior Assistant, and other officials who were posted at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Jammu. The case follows an investigation into allegations of irregularities in the collection and deposition of passenger tax from 2018 until the tax collection transitioned to an online system.

The investigation was initiated after the General Administration Department sent a communication on March 6, 2023, highlighting potential misconduct. During the verification process, it was revealed that Manju Sharma, assigned to the Accounts Section of the RTO, had been collecting passenger taxes from owners of commercial passenger vehicles. However, she allegedly concealed the actual amounts received, only reflecting a fraction of the collected taxes in the official records and depositing these smaller amounts into the government treasury. The rest of the collected taxes were misappropriated.

The investigation uncovered that over INR 10 lakhs had been misappropriated. This figure emerged from a random cross-check of government receipt copies and vehicle owners’ copies. The misappropriated amount is expected to increase as further checks are conducted on additional commercial vehicles in Jammu. The records, such as the Manual Cash Book and vehicle-wise details of tax collections, were poorly maintained, facilitating the embezzlement.

Alleged Conspiracy: Manju Sharma is believed to have acted in conspiracy with other employees of the RTO office. The investigation indicates that this misconduct was part of a larger scheme involving several officials who may have abetted or facilitated the misappropriation of passenger tax funds.

Current Status: The investigation is ongoing, with further scrutiny expected to uncover the full extent of the misappropriation and the involvement of other officials.

This case highlights the ACB’s efforts to combat corruption within government departments and ensure accountability for public funds.