Srinagar: Special Judge Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has denied bail to a Jammu Kashmir Bank officer in connection with alleged bank recruitment scam.
Petitioner Muhammad Ayoub Wanchoo son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Wanchoo, a resident of Chanapora Srinagar had sought bail under section 348 CrPC in anticipation of his arrest at the hands of ACB on the ground that he has rendered 37 years of service in JK Bank and reached the position of Vice President by hardwork and presently is working as Zonal Head Anantnag.
The petitioner according to Kashmir News Trust through his Counsel Muhammad Akbar Magray had petitioned that the JK Bank resorted to recruitment process controlled and supervised by the then ruling political masters and the Chairman JK Bank. The petitioner as such has no authority or role in recruitment process. The Counsel had pleaded that ACB is hell-bent to get his client arrested under non-bailable offence.
The ACB Counsels informed the court that the petitioner according to police report along with other officials of the Jammu Kashmir Bank have made 2800 illegal back door appointments from time to time from the year 2011. They said that the accused was functioning as Vice President Human Resource Development Department JK Bank Corporate Headquarters Srinagar and as per the records so for scrutinized reveals that accused has paled a key role in illegal recruitments.
The ACB Counsels prayed that the investigation of the case is at infancy stage and in case petitioner is enlarged on bail at this stage, there is every possibility that he may tamper with the evidences of the case and will influence his subordinates in the said bank.
Special Judge Anti Corruption Bureau, Mr RN Wattal while dismissing the bail of the accused in anticipation of his arrest said that the back door recruitment scam in the Bank has been running since long with active involvement of politicians, bureaucrats and the bank officials. The recruitment of blue-eyed candidates who happen to be the kiths and kins of said influential fellows have deprived the meritorious candidates of their right of participation and recruitment. Had there been transparent recruitment process in said institution, obviously these blue-eyed persons could not have found their place in the Bank concerned. The recruitment scam has shattered the soul of every inhabitant especially unemployed, meritorious young generation of the society. Any concession of bail in favour of the accused at this stage shall not be taken in good taste by public in general, particularly the unemployed youth and shall lose their faith in the courts. (KNT)
