EOW Kashmir Chargesheets Five In Fake Teacher Appointment Case

SRINAGAR, Sept 2: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against five persons for allegedly fabricating and using forged transfer and adjustment orders to secure appointments as teachers in the Education Department, officials said on Wednesday.

The chargesheet was presented before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam, in FIR No. 36/2021, registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B RPC.

Those chargesheeted are Nisar Ahmad Bhat of Iqbal Colony, Tral, Pulwama; Shakir Gull of Kachdoora, Shopian; Mohammad Ayaz Rather of Takipora, Ratnipora, Shopian; Sheikh Ruhail Ahmad of Kachdoora, Shopian; and Tanveer Ahmad Rather of Khudpora Mowgam, Anantnag.

The case followed a communication from the Director, School Education Kashmir, regarding three persons who had joined as teachers in Zone Nagam, Charar-i-Sharief, Budgam, on the basis of purported transfer and adjustment orders allegedly issued by the Directorate.

During the investigation, the questioned documents were found to carry forged signatures and fabricated order and dispatch/endorsement numbers, the Crime Branch said.

Records obtained from the Zonal Education Officer, Nagam, and Chief Education Officer, Budgam, confirmed that Mohammad Ayaz Rather, Sheikh Ruhail Ahmad and Tanveer Ahmad Rather had been transferred or adjusted on the basis of the questioned documents.

Verification with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir further established that its order book had been closed on December 31, 2019, indicating that the order and endorsement numbers cited in the questioned documents were fictitious.

The investigation also found that the three individuals had never been appointed anywhere in the Education Department.

According to the EOW, accused Nisar Ahmad Bhat, a teacher, and Shakir Gull allegedly acted as facilitators or intermediaries. Bhat was also allegedly involved in arranging the means and machinery used to fabricate and print the forged official documents.

The EOW said the allegations were substantiated during the investigation and the chargesheet was filed before the court for judicial determination.