Crime Branch Busts Fake Jobs, Land Allotment Scam in Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 25: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a major fake jobs and land allotment racket, uncovering how a Srinagar-based government employee allegedly duped unemployed youth and poor families by issuing forged appointment and allotment orders using fabricated official seals and signatures.

According to an official statement, the chargesheet in FIR No. 54/2023 has been submitted before the court of the 4th Additional Munsiff Judge, Srinagar, against Fouzia Afzal, daughter of Mohd Afzal Magray, resident of Rehmatullah Colony, Sector-B, Fruit Mandi, Parimpora. The accused has been booked under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

The case originated from a complaint alleging that the accused, a Class-IV employee posted in the office of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, indulged in criminal misconduct by issuing fake allotment orders for shops and plots. During investigation, it was found that the forged documents carried fabricated signatures of the Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar along with a fake seal of the District Magistrate, Srinagar.

Following receipt of the complaint, EOW Kashmir launched a detailed probe which revealed that the accused had allegedly cheated several innocent people of lakhs of rupees on the false promise of providing shops at Jehangir Chowk, five-marla plots at Bemina, and appointment orders for Junior Assistant posts in various government departments. To make the fraud appear genuine, fake allotment and appointment documents bearing forged signatures were supplied to the victims.

The investigation further revealed that Fouzia Afzal operated in her private capacity after office hours and impersonated senior officials from departments including the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Kashmir.

Crime Branch officials said the accused is a habitual offender, involved in multiple FIRs registered at different police stations across Srinagar district, while several other complaints are under investigation at EOW Crime Branch Kashmir. She has already been placed under suspension, and a departmental inquiry has recommended her premature retirement under Article 226(2) of the J&K Service Conduct Rules, as per an inquiry report dated October 14, 2023.

The investigation in the case has been concluded as “proved,” and the chargesheet has been filed for judicial adjudication, the statement added. (KNC)