Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 19: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) today filed a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department employee for allegedly fraudulently availing migrant relief benefits worth lakhs of rupees.
As per a statement issued here, the CBK said that the charge sheet has been produced before the court of the 19th Electricity Magistrate, Jammu, against Mohd Hussain Shah, a resident of Syedapura, Shopian, presently residing at Nunar Kawabagh, Ganderbal.
Shah, who was posted in the PHE Department’s Ganderbal Division at the relevant time and has since retired, is accused of unlawfully registering himself and his family members as migrants and fraudulently obtaining migrant relief amounting to Rs 18,30,265.
According to CBK, the case was initiated following a written complaint received by the EOW, alleging that the accused had dishonestly availed migrant relief in cash through illegal means.
It was alleged that despite being in active Government service during the period in question, the accused registered himself and his family as migrants, making him ineligible for the relief benefits.
Following the complaint, the EOW conducted a detailed investigation, which prima facie established that the accused had “deliberately misrepresented” his employment status and “suppressed material facts” to secure migrant registration.
The investigation further revealed that he continued to draw migrant relief benefits despite being ineligible, resulting in wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to himself.
On the basis of the material evidence collected during the investigation, the EOW concluded that the acts of omission and commission on the part of the accused attract penal provisions under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
CBK said the evidence on record substantiates the allegations made against him.
After completing all statutory and procedural formalities, the EOW has presented the charge sheet before the competent court for judicial scrutiny.
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