Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 25: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch J&K today filed a chargesheet in a Power Development Department (PDD) scam involving alleged forgery of official records and fraudulent appointment.
As per the Crime Branch, the chargesheet in FIR No. 46/2023 has been submitted before the Anti-Corruption Court in Baramulla against Nasir Ahmad Mir of Kunan Babagund in Bandipora, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik of Aragam, Bandipora-an employee of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL)-and a deceased former Executive Engineer of KPDCL’s Electric Division Sumbal, a resident of Jammu.
According to the agency, the case stems from a written complaint alleging illegal appointments in the PDD.
Investigations revealed that Mir had secured a Government job on the basis of a fabricated appointment order purportedly issued under SRO-43 of 1994, a provision meant for compassionate appointments.
“The purported appointment order was found missing from official records, casting serious doubts over its authenticity.”
The probe, as per the agency, further found that Malik, then serving as a Senior Assistant, allegedly prepared a forged service book for Mir, falsely showing his appointment under SRO-43.
Forensic examination confirmed that the entries in the service book were authored and signed by Malik, it added.
Investigators also found no official dispatch or receipt records to support the issuance of the alleged appointment order.
Verification conducted by the then Tehsildar Bandipora established that Mir was not eligible for appointment under SRO-43, as no qualifying family circumstances existed.
Despite this, the agency said, the deceased Executive Engineer allegedly facilitated the release of salary in 2009-over three years after the purported date of appointment-without due verification.
The investigation concluded that the accused acted in criminal conspiracy, involving forgery, cheating, and misuse of official position.
Accordingly, offences under Sections 420, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, have been established against the accused public servants.
The chargesheet has been filed for judicial adjudication, the agency said.
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