Culture of Impunity: ACB Exposes Affluent Lifestyle of Srinagar Official, Cashier Turned ‘Decisionmaker’ Under Scanner
Srinagar, May 24, KNT: In a glaring example of deep-rooted corruption and systemic impunity in government departments, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has registered a case against a senior employee of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Srinagar for possessing assets grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The official, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, who has been working in the cashier (Nazir) section of the DC office since 2011, was found to have amassed vast wealth and property, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of internal checks and the repeated neglect of General Administration Department (GAD) orders regarding rotational transfers.
ACB said that a discreet verification was initiated into Bhat’s financial dealings, which revealed startling findings. The investigation unearthed a lavish residential house at Firdousabad Batamaloo, built on 11 marlas of land, an adjoining structure with 6.5 marlas of land, and two more land parcels measuring 10 and 13 marlas at Mouza Nowgam.
He also owns three luxury vehicles: a Toyota Fortuner, Renault Duster, and a Maruti Wagon-R.
ACB further revealed that Bhat had spent heavily on the higher education of his children, operated multiple bank accounts and lockers, and was involved in several suspicious cash transactions.
Following the registration of FIR No. 09/2025 under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, ACB teams carried out simultaneous search operations at Bhat’s residential and other premises. The raids, conducted in the presence of Executive Magistrates and local police, led to the seizure of incriminating documents and further evidence of both movable and immovable assets.
Sources within the DC Office told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that Bhat, despite being a mid-level employee, wielded disproportionate influence, especially in vehicle allocations during elections, purchases, and marketing operations. He was reportedly also involved with a local newspaper, handling its advertisement section. “He was the de facto decision-maker in many areas,” an insider revealed, adding that Bhat’s position remained unchanged for over a decade despite multiple GAD circulars mandating transfers.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the failure of administrative reforms and the flourishing of corruption due to lack of accountability. While the GAD has issued several orders on rotational postings to prevent the misuse of official positions, hundreds of officials, like Bhat, continue in the same role for years, forming unaccountable power centres within government departments.
As the investigation progresses, public outcry is building over the culture of silence, privilege, and impunity that protects such individuals. “This is not just about one person. It’s about a system that enables unchecked power, disregards transparency, and buries accountability,” said a local anti-graft activist. [KNT]
