Complaint Details “Work Not Executed Despite Bills Drawn,” Missing Records, and Forged Geo-Tags in Block Balwal Brahmana; Committee Vows Spot Visit, Strict Action Against Culprits
- Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Jammu has constituted a five-member inquiry committee, chaired by BDO Tahir Hafiz, to investigate “serious irregularities” in Desilting and Jungle Clearance work in Devipur Panchayat, Block Balwal Brahmana, for the year 2025-26.
- The inquiry follows a detailed complaint from Vinkal Sharma, alleging “work not executed despite bills drawn,” 85-90% funds released without completion certificates, missing attendance registers, and the absence of mandatory geo-tagged photographs, despite official records showing “Accepted Geotags.”
- The inquiry committee officer has confirmed to Jammu Jottings a full team will conduct a spot visit today (Wednesday), promising a “neat and clean report” and “strict action” against anyone found involved in the alleged misuse of public funds, targeting responsible officers and contractors.
Mohit Mehra
Jammu, March 31, 2026: A massive fraud involving the alleged misuse of public funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has been unearthed in Devipur Panchayat, Block Balwal Brahmana, prompting the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Jammu to constitute a high-level inquiry committee. The comprehensive probe, ordered under No. 56 – ACDJ of 2026 dated March 03, 2026, aims to investigate “serious irregularities” in Desilting and Jungle Clearance work for the financial year 2025-26, as officials vow swift and stringent action against those found culpable.
The inquiry committee comprises five members, with Tahir Hafiz, Block Development Officer (BDO), Maira Mandrian, serving as Chairperson. He is joined by Hitesh Gupta (AE, Kharah Balli) as Member, Yudhveer Singh (AAO, Pargwal) as Member Secretary, Prikshit (JE, Khour) as Member, and Rahul Jain (PO MGNREGA, Khour) as Member. This team has been mandated to conduct a transparent and time-bound, fact-finding detailed inquiry.
The investigation was triggered by a compelling complaint submitted by Vinkal Sharma, Dharmal Chowk, Bantalab, District Jammu, dated February 23, 2026. His complaint meticulously details “serious irregularities and apparent misuse of public funds” in the works undertaken in Devipur Panchayat. Among the most damning allegations are that bills have been prepared and drawn for various Desilting and Jungle Clearance works in irrigation distributaries, yet “no actual work has commenced on the ground.” Visual evidence from geo-tagged images, specifically dated October 7, 2025, attached with the complaint, clearly shows these distributaries remain overgrown with jungle growth up to 90-95%, completely contradicting claims of clearance. Funds were allegedly withdrawn even for distributaries already free from silt.
The complaint further highlights gross irregularities in completion certificates: despite the fiscal year 2025-26 approaching its end, completion certificates have not been issued, yet an astonishing 85% to 90% of funds have already been released. This suggests a deliberate delay and concealment of facts by both the administration and contractors, who are allegedly waiting for a new annual plan to start and to avoid accountability for the old one. Photographic evidence is severely deficient, with official records’ images failing to show any labourers or MGNREGA job card holders working on site, and no work-in-progress photographs are available. Crucially, mandatory Geo-tagged/GPRS/Jio-tagged photographs are absent, violating departmental guidelines, even though BHUVAN GEO-MGNREGA reports show “Accepted Geotags” for these very works. The estimated cost and expenditure details are missing, and attendance registers for mandated two-level attendance are also absent, indicating widespread violation of mandatory documentation. The complaint also points to delayed response to an RTI filed earlier and misuse of funds in a road construction project where bills were withdrawn for a partially constructed road that is absent on the ground.
The inquiry committee officer, when contacted by Jammu Jottings, confirmed that the full team will conduct a spot visit tomorrow. He unequivocally stated that “if anything wrong is found, strict action will be taken against those involved.” He assured that a “neat and clean report” will be submitted within the stipulated four weeks. The committee’s terms of reference empower it to conduct an in-depth inquiry, verify physical progress against sanctioned estimates, examine fund utilization, record statements from concerned officials, and function independently, ensuring principles of natural justice are strictly followed. The Block Development Officer, Bhalwal Brahmana, has been specifically directed to mandatorily produce all original records for scrutiny.
This extensive complaint, backed by visual evidence and statutory violations, alleges corruption that “not only amounts to corruption but also undermines the faith of the public in governance.” The ACD Jammu, Er. Danish Rasool Mir (JKAS), has been urged to intervene to restore transparency and ensure that public funds are utilized for genuine development. The committee’s findings are eagerly awaited, as they will determine responsibility for misusing public funds and violating MGNREGA guidelines, with promises of exemplary action to set a precedent for transparency and accountability in rural development works.
