Court rejects J&K Bank petition for releasing files seized by ACB

SRINAGAR: A court here rejected the petition filed by the J&K Bank seeking release of files which were seized by Anticorruption Bureau Kashmir in the raids carried out by it at Bank’s corporate headquarters in June this year when it sacked the then chairman of bank Parvez Ahmed.
The application filed by Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd Corporate Headquarters Srinagar seeking the release of files seized by the ACB on 8 June in a case registered under FIR No.10/2019 was rejected by Special Judge Anticorruption Kashmir RN Wattal.
The grounds projected for release of these files were that the files seized from the office of Asif Raja, Senior Executive Recruitment, pertain to various processes undertaken by the bank.
“Some of these files relate to bank Employees compassionate cases and some files relate to personal files of left out candidates who have been appointed as Banking Associates (Contractual) in the month of October 2018. These files do not pertain to the recruitment of BAT and ABA's which are under investigation,” the bank said, seeking release of the said files for completion of process undertaken by it.
The ACB contended that files pertains to compassionate appointment cases, applications and recommendations for appointments in JK Bank, casually engaged persons, absorption of gardeners, personal files of left out candidates who have been appointed as banking associates.
“These files are presently under investigation and is material evidence required during the course of investigation in order to conclude the investigation of the case on merits,” it said, praying that the application preferred by the bank be rejected in the interest of investigation.
Special Judge Anticorruption Kashmir RN Wattal observed that the investigation of the case is in its culminating stage and the files that are sought to be released are proximately related to the case and are required by the investigating agencies for logical conclusion of the case.
“The release of these files at this stage would defeat the very purport of the investigation. Moreover, the said FIR pertains to illegal appointment scam and exchange of huge amount is alleged to have been misappropriated in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
“The case is very sensitive in its nature, has assumed public importance and involvement of big fishes in the case is still under investigation. The stage is not ripe for the release and it would not be appropriate to invoke the jurisdiction vested in court for releasing the files seized by ACB(K). Further the release of these files at this stage shall hamper the investigation of the case,” he said.
The court further observed that the stage of moving the instant application is premature and cannot be considered in light of sensitivity of the case and stage of investigation.
With these observations, the application being devoid of any merit or substance is dismissed at this stage, it said.