Srinagar: In a major development in a decades-old corruption case, the Anti-Corruption Court in Srinagar has convicted retired IAS officer Habibul Hassan Beigh, sentencing him to one year of imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹15 lakh. Beigh had served as a member of the J&K Government’s Special Tribunal during his bureaucratic career.
Case Dates Back to 1997
The conviction comes in FIR No. 22/1997, registered on April 24, 1997, by the then Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK), now known as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Beigh was accused of having accumulated disproportionate assets – both movable and immovable – that were significantly beyond his known sources of income.
Charges Established Through Evidence
During the lengthy investigation, the ACB gathered both oral and documentary evidence that established Beigh’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The charge sheet was formally filed in November 2000 before the Anti-Corruption Court, following which the legal proceedings extended over two decades.
Judgment Delivered by Special Judge Faizan-ul-Haq Iqbal
On Wednesday, Additional Special Judge of the Anti-Corruption Court, Srinagar, Faizan-ul-Haq Iqbal, delivered the verdict, convicting Beigh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and the J&K Public Men & Public Servants Declaration of Assets Act, 1983.
The case was effectively argued by Senior Prosecuting Officer Wajahat Jameel on behalf of the ACB Srinagar.
Significance of the Conviction
The ruling underscores a firm message from the judiciary and anti-corruption bodies: delayed justice will still be delivered. Even after retirement, public officials can be held accountable for corruption and unethical enrichment during their service.
This verdict is expected to strengthen public faith in the legal system and act as a deterrent to corruption among serving and retired bureaucrats.
