Who is CEO Phalgam Development Authority?

Phalgam, Riyaz Ahmad Wani, KAS, and allegedly a main culprit in Multi-crore Kishtwar food sacm, who remained in Police custody for more than 48 hours in October 2009, is currently the Chief Execative officer of Phalgam Development authority.

Wani, then Assistant Director, CA&PD Department, Anantnag was booked and an FIR bearing No 19/2009 was registered in Police Station, Crime Branch Jammu, on 20.8.2009 after the scam was unearthed.

Earlier had police registered a case at police station Marwah under section 409/109 RPC and arrested the accused, Farooq Ahmed of Barnar Kokernag, who works as in-charge store-keeper in the area.
According to the compliant, the official had misappropriated food grains during dispatches to Marwah Warwan area for the year 2008-09. It was claimed that the store-keeper received 33577.71 quintals of ration at Inshan Guzer base camp vide receipt no. 2895 but the contractor delivered only 32045.54 quintals in the area.

As holding only a Class-IV employee responsible for such a large-scale embezzlement raised many eyebrows, the CA&PD initiated an internal probe. Pursuant to the preliminary enquiry conducted by
Department, into the matter relating to misappropriation and embezzlement of food grains meant for distribution among the ration holders of BlockWarwan and Marwah of district Kishtwar, an FIR bearing No 19/2009 was registered in Police Station, Crime Branch Jammu.

However, after remaining suspended for around two years, the accused official was reinstated along with Khurshid Ahmad (KAS) then the Deputy Director, CA&PD Department, Anantnag by the government vide Government Order No. 02-CA&PD of 2013 dated 3.1.2013 but the departmental proceedings against them were pending for their alleged “supervisory lapses”.