Srinagar: The Special Crime Wing (SCW), Crime Branch Kashmir, has filed a chargesheet against three public servants in a fraud and corruption case involving the alleged manipulation of service records to secure undue benefits.
The chargesheet in Case FIR No. 02/2022 was presented before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B RPC and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Rashid Gojri, a Helper in the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Office, Beerwah; Manzoor Ahmad Wani, a Section Officer in the office of the Chief Agriculture Officer, Budgam; and Peer Abdul Rashid, a retired Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO).
According to the investigation, the case originated from a communication received on February 15, 2022, from the Deputy Director Agriculture, Central Kashmir, regarding the alleged manipulation of service records by certain officials to obtain undue benefits.
During verification, it allegedly surfaced that Abdul Rashid Gojri had submitted a forged date-of-birth certificate showing his date of birth as February 27, 1973, instead of his actual date of birth, February 27, 1975. Subsequently, a case was registered at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir, now Police Station SCW Kashmir.
The investigation further revealed that Gojri was allegedly 17 years and two months old at the time of his initial engagement as a daily wager in the Agriculture Department. The other two accused allegedly facilitated the incorporation of the incorrect date of birth into his service records by disregarding directions for document verification, thereby paving the way for the regularisation of his services.
The Crime Branch stated that the investigation established the alleged offences against all three accused. After obtaining the requisite approval and sanction concerning the two serving government employees, the chargesheet was presented before the competent court for further proceedings.
The Special Crime Wing, Crime Branch Kashmir, has urged the general public to remain vigilant against fraud and corruption and to report any such incidents to the concerned authorities.
