CBI probe ordered into regularization of decade-long absence of J&K engineer

SRINAGAR: The governor’s administration has ordered a CBI probe into the regularization of decade-long unauthorised absence of well-connected engineer Vikar Mustafa Shonthu and his subsequent appointment as managing director (MD) of J&K Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) by two successive PDP R&B ministers, an official spokesman said. The order was issued on Saturday.
Shonthu is the brother-in-law of former PDP minister Altaf Bukhari’s sister and, hence, allegedly enjoyed the minister’s patronage in getting his long absence regularized. He was initially posted as general manager (GM) of JKPCC in 2015 when Bukhari was holding the charge of R&B ministry during Mufti Sayeed’s tenure as chief minister.
He remained away in a gulf country unauthorisedly for about one decade and returned only after Bukhari became R&B minister in 2015, official sources said. On March 2, 2018, Shonthu was made MD of JKPCC when Naeem Akhtar was R&B minister and chairman of the corporation, they said.
Following numerous complaints about the functioning of JKPCC -- particularly relating to corruption in civil contracts and illegality in appointments at multiple levels -- the government had appointed a fact-finding committee.
The committee recommended a probe by the crime branch (CB) with regard to the manner in which the unauthorized long absence of Shonthu was regularized, the official spokesman said. However, taking serious note of the matter, the administration on Saturday also decided to refer this matter to the CBI for a thorough investigation and action.
The spokesman said this was a major step of the government in cleaning up the functioning of JKPCC by stopping and eliminating backdoor appointments and rule violation.
The appointment of Shonthu as MD, which was seen as ab initio illegal, was also referred to the CB for filing of an FIR and taking further action, an official statement said. The CB was even asked to examine the role of the chairmen (ministers Bukhari and Akhtar), an MD of JKPCC and the administrative secretaries in the matter and take action as per law.