ACB books police inspector for disproportionate assets, conducts raids in Budgam

Srinagar, October 11: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar has registered a case against a police inspector posted as cashier at the District Police Office, Bandipora, for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Raids were also conducted at two of his residential properties in Budgam district.

According to an official statement, Inspector (M) Peer Zada Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, son of Peer Zada Mohammad Akber Shah, a resident of Wahabpora, Budgam, was found to have acquired substantial movable and immovable assets in his name and in the names of his family members, far exceeding his legitimate earnings.

The ACB said the case (FIR No. 20/2025) was registered following a secret verification that confirmed the officer had amassed wealth during his service period which could not be justified by his income.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused and his family owned over three kanals of land in Budgam, including property at Shahpora Wathora, and a double-storey residential house at Ompora Colony. He also reportedly holds bank balances of around ₹2.48 crore, owns several vehicles registered in family names, and has allegedly spent over ₹2.40 crore on his children’s education in reputed institutions.

The Bureau stated that scrutiny of the bank accounts showed multiple unexplained cash inflows and high-value transactions, while several immovable properties were found to be registered in the names of the officer’s wife and children.

“The assessment of income vis-à-vis expenditure revealed that the actual income of the accused from known sources between January 2012 and June 2025 was grossly insufficient to justify the assets accumulated and the expenditure incurred,” the statement added.

Following registration of the case under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), ACB conducted searches at the officer’s residential premises in Budgam in compliance with a court order dated October 10, 2025.

The Bureau said further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of assets accumulated by the officer and his associates.