CBK Chargesheets Two in Fake Agriculture Appointment Scam | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) has filed a chargesheet before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Chadoora, Budgam, against two persons in a case related to the use of forged appointment orders in the Agriculture Department, allegedly aimed at cheating aspirants of government jobs.

Officials said the chargesheet has been submitted in connection with FIR No. 43/2021 registered under Sections 420, 511, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The accused have been identified as Showkat Ahmad Hajam, son of Mohammad Akbar Hajam of Wagoora in Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district, and Irshad Ahmad Ahanger, son of Ghulam Mohammad Ahanger of Ratnipora in Pulwama district.

The case originated from a complaint by the Deputy Director, Agriculture, who reported that a woman had attempted to join the Directorate of Agriculture on the basis of a fake and invalid appointment order. According to the complaint, the woman visited the office on November 30, 2019, carrying a photocopy of a purported official communication dated November 22, 2019. Subsequent verification revealed that the communication was fictitious and had not been issued by the Directorate.

Further examination found that the appointment orders cited in the document — Order No. 385/Estt of 2019 dated April 26, 2019, and Order No. 16/Estt of 2019 dated January 29, 2019 — were also forged. During the investigation, it was established that Irshad Ahmad Ahanger had procured the fake communication from co-accused Showkat Ahmad Hajam.

Investigators said the forged document showed three persons as having been selected or appointed as orderlies in the Agriculture Department, Kashmir Division. Acting on the basis of the forged order, a woman from the Pathan area of Pulwama district was allegedly induced to believe she had been legitimately appointed and attempted to join the Agriculture Department at Srinagar on the same day.

The investigation further revealed that the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy to prepare and use forged appointment orders with the intention of cheating job aspirants. Although no monetary transaction or wrongful gain or loss could be established, the act was treated as an attempt to cheat under Section 511 of the IPC.

Following the completion of the investigation, the EOW has submitted the chargesheet before the competent court for judicial determination.