HC modifies anti-corruption court order, allows conditional release of bank accounts, gold and LIC policies

06/10/2026

JAMMU, Oct 5: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has modified an order of the Special Judge (Anti-Corruption), Jammu, relating to release of certain seized assets in a disproportionate assets case, while imposing safeguards to ensure that the property remains available during trial.
Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi passed the order while deciding Criminal Revision No. 06/2023, UT of J&K vs Parveen Pandoh & Others. The Court also condoned a delay of 191 days in filing the revision petition against the trial court order dated May 23, 2022.
The case arose from FIR No. 14/2010 registered by the then Vigilance Organisation Jammu, now Anti-Corruption Bureau Jammu, against Parveen Pandoh, then Executive Engineer, SIDCO, Bari Brahmana, alleging possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
According to the investigation referred to in the High Court order, the alleged disproportionate assets were assessed at approximately Rs. 28.47 crore. Prosecution sanction was subsequently obtained and a challan was presented before the competent court.
The Special Judge (Anti-Corruption), Jammu, had earlier directed release of specified bank accounts, gold items weighing 73 grams and 60.14 grams, besides two LIC policies standing in the name of respondent No. 1.
The UT challenged the order before the High Court, contending that the released assets formed part of the case property and that adequate safeguards had not been incorporated by the trial court.
Justice Kazmi noted that although the respondents had stated before the trial court that they would produce the articles whenever required, the May 23, 2022 order did not expressly record such an undertaking.
The High Court accordingly modified the order and permitted release of the specified assets subject to conditions.
The respondents have been directed to furnish an undertaking on affidavit that the articles would be produced before the court whenever required and that their nature would not be altered.
With regard to the bank accounts, the Court permitted their operation but directed that proper details of all withdrawals be maintained. In case the proceedings are decided against the respondents, they would be liable to restore or pay the amount to the extent that was lying in the accounts on the date of freezing, as directed by the court.
The Court further directed that the respondents shall not close the bank accounts or surrender, assign or allow the LIC policies to lapse. The policies shall remain in force until further orders.
The trial court has been directed to monitor compliance with the conditions imposed by the High Court.
With these modifications and safeguards, the criminal revision petition was disposed of.

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