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| Strange! Forest authorities handover plum post to ‘tainted’ officer | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 7: It may sound strange but it’s true that a ‘tainted’ officer of the Forest Department has not only able to get continuous reprieves over the years but also managed to obtain a prized posting for himself thereby making a mockery of the system.
And, the buck doesn’t stops as far as the allegations of malpractices, irregularities and corruption against the officer is concerned.
The latest in the series of accusations against Iftakhar Ahmed, (then Range Officer Haveli, currently posted as I/C Control Room Bhaderwah), is a complaint filed by a retired Block Officer (BO) Loran, Forest Division Poonch.
In his complaint lodged before the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB), the retired Block Officer has alleged that the then Range Officer Iftakhar Ahmed demanded graft from him for issuing NOC to settle his pension case, adding that the document was issued only after the officer received a hefty amount from him.
It is in place to mention here that this is not the first instance where the role of this ‘dubious character’ officer has come under cloud of suspicion as several other complaints and inquiries are pending against him. Wishing anonymity, the complainant (retired Block Officer) affirmed about his complaint to Early Times and said that Iftakhar Ahmed, then Range Officer Haveli, is a habitual offender and involved in many other offences.
“Despite a pending inquiry which had to be concluded within two months as per directions of the J&K High Court issued on 28 January 2020, the Range Officer Iftakhar Ahmed, instead of receiving a punitive action, was rewarded with a coveted post of I/C Control Room Bhaderwah,” he said. “The post of I/C Control Room Bhaderwah is considered to be a plump post as it commands supremacy over 15-20 staff members. It has more authority over men, even bigger than that of the DFO and Range Officer of the concerned Division,” he added.
As per the available information, Iftakhar Ahmed has been declared as habitual offender involved in various forest offences in the reports of the various inquiries conducted so far. “He has been suspended on several occasions and Forest Department has passed orders for recovery of huge amount from him to compensate government losses incurred due to his involvement in forest offences,” said the retired BO, adding that the said officer is involved in forging signature of then DFO Poonch and also linked in a case FIR no 242/2018 P/S Surankote regarding illegal sale of PHE pipes.
Meanwhile, sources informed that since his suspension from Range Office Haveli, said officer is also involved in missing/mishandling of two important official files of Range Office Haveli. “These files are important in various vigilance inquiries and in a High Court case WP 4031/2019, currently under trial at level of contempt of Court. As per information, neither department could able to track status of these files nor has action been taken against delinquent official,” said sources.
It is worthwhile to mention here that on few previous occasions, Early Times had highlighted the different offences committed by the officer from time to time and taking cognizance of the news stories, the department conducted inquiry against Ahmed and took punitive action against him.
“When a news appeared in Early Times in 2018, the then PCCF had suspended Iftakhar Ahmed after conducting a through enquiry for various charges against him,” said, the retired BO.
“The said official has filed SWP No 2406/2018 against order of then PCCF in High Court. Vide order dated 28-01-2020, High Court has applauded the action taken by then PCCF and passed directions to conclude the enquiry, if not already conducted, within a period of two months from date of issuing of order as allegations are of very serious nature,” he added.
However, sources maintained that the inquiry has already been concluded and its report indicted Iftakhar Ahmed as a habitual offender and recommended for disciplinary action while asking to treat the case in category of service deadwood. |
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