Baramulla: Beig Shamim Ahmed ,Srinagar, July 6: In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu & Kashmir, has registered an FIR against five officials of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department and nine Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement and misappropriation of Government food grains worth ₹5.57 crore in Karnah, Kupwara district. The FIR (No. 02/2026) was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended), and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, after obtaining the required approval from the competent authority. According to the ACB, the case was initiated following a communication from the Director, FCS&CA, Kashmir, seeking criminal action after departmental inspections and physical verification revealed massive shortages of Government food grains. A Joint Surprise Check at Government Sale Centres and Fair Price Shops initially detected a shortage of 4,175.89 quintals of rice at the Lountha Granary in Karnah. Subsequent verification by a departmental sub-committee and a detailed investigation by the ACB uncovered substantial shortages at several Sale Centres and Fair Price Shops under the Tangdhar, Karnah-A and Karnah-B circles of Kupwara district. The total loss to the Government exchequer has been assessed at ₹5,57,18,657.25. The ACB alleged that the accused, including public servants and private beneficiaries, entered into a criminal conspiracy to dishonestly misappropriate Government food grains entrusted to them by abusing their official positions for unlawful personal gain. Among those named in the FIR are Umar Bashir alias Raja Umer, then Assistant Storekeeper, Ashiq Hussain Mir, then Assistant Storekeeper, along with twelve other accused comprising departmental officials and Fair Price Shop dealers. Soon after registering the case, the ACB conducted searches at multiple locations and initiated further legal proceedings. The investigation is continuing. The Anti-Corruption Bureau reiterated its commitment to eradicating corruption and protecting public resources, while appealing to citizens to report corruption through its official helpline and email