SRINAGAR, May 24: In a major breakthrough in the fight against corruption, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a criminal case against Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, Nazir at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, for amassing assets grossly disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Bhat, a resident of Firdousabad, Batamaloo, Srinagar, has come under the scanner after a discreet verification by the ACB revealed startling revelations of wealth accumulation far beyond his legal earnings.

According to officials, the assets include:

A lavish residential house constructed on 11 marlas of prime land at Firdousabad, Batamaloo

An additional structure on 6.5 marlas adjacent to the residence

Two separate land parcels measuring 10 marlas and 13 marlas respectively in Mouza Nowgam, Srinagar

High-end vehicles including a Toyota Fortuner, Renault Duster, and Maruti Wagon-R

Multiple bank accounts with suspicious cash deposits and unexplained financial transactions

Several bank lockers operated by Bhat and his family members

Substantial, unaccounted expenditures on the overseas education of his children

The investigation has revealed a lifestyle and expenditure pattern drastically misaligned with Bhat’s official income. Acting swiftly on the findings, the ACB registered FIR No. 09/2025 under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, initiating a full-scale probe into the case.

Following the registration of the case, search warrants were procured from the competent court, leading to simultaneous raids at Bhat’s residential and related premises. The search operations were conducted in the presence of Executive Magistrates and assisted by local law enforcement. Officials confirmed the seizure of vital documents and evidence indicating further instances of unaccounted wealth.

A senior ACB official stated, “The scale of assets uncovered in this case points to systematic abuse of official position. We are pursuing every lead to ensure accountability.”

The investigation is ongoing, with the ACB committed to unearthing the full extent of the disproportionate assets and bringing all involved to justice. This case underscores the agency’s intensified crackdown on corruption within government ranks in Jammu and Kashmir.