Retired IAS Officer in J&K Gets One-Year Jail Term and Rs 15 Lakh Fine in Old Corruption Case

In a big step against corruption, a court in Srinagar has found a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer guilty in an old case. The officer, Habibul Hassan Beigh, who used to work as a member of the Special Tribunal in the J&K government, has been sentenced to one year in jail and a fine of Rs 15 lakh.025440 This happened on August 20, 2025, by the Additional Special Judge of the Anti-Corruption Court in Srinagar, Faizan-ul-Haq Iqbal.

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The case goes back to 1997. It started when the Vigilance Organization Kashmir (now called the Anti-Corruption Bureau or ACB) filed a First Information Report (FIR) number 22/1997 on April 24, 1997.The charges were under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the J&K Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets Act. Basically, Beigh was accused of collecting a lot of money and property that didn’t match his official salary and known income sources. This is called having “disproportionate assets.”

During the investigation, the ACB gathered strong proof, including documents and witness statements, that showed Beigh had built up huge movable and immovable properties while he was in service.The charge sheet, which is like a formal list of accusations, was filed in court on November 13, 2000.After a long trial, the court decided that the charges were true beyond any doubt.

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Beigh, who lives in Chinar Colony, Barzulla, Srinagar, was convicted under Sections 5(1)(e) and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The sentence includes simple imprisonment for one year, which means time in jail without hard labor, plus the heavy fine. If he doesn’t pay the fine, he might face more punishment, but the details aren’t clear yet.

The ACB’s Senior Prosecuting Officer, Wajahat Jameel, argued the case on behalf of the government.This conviction shows how seriously Jammu and Kashmir is fighting corruption, even in cases that are almost 30 years old. It sends a message that no one, not even high-ranking officials, is above the law.

Cases like this are important because corruption hurts everyone. It takes away money meant for public services like roads, schools, and hospitals. In J&K, where people have faced many challenges, clean governance is key to building trust and progress.

The Valley Vibes Team will keep watching for updates on this story.