Srinagar, Oct 14 : The Special Crime Wing (SCW) Kashmir of Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against three Agriculture Department officials in an alleged service record manipulation case involving the use of a forged date-of-birth certificate to secure undue service benefits.
The chargesheet in FIR No. 02/2022 has been presented before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (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 dated February 15, 2022, received from the Deputy Director Agriculture, Central Kashmir, regarding alleged manipulation of service records by officials to obtain undue benefits.
During verification, investigators found that Gojri had allegedly 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. The case was subsequently registered at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir, now known as Police Station SCW Kashmir.
The investigation further revealed that Gojri was allegedly 17 years and two months old when he was initially engaged as a daily wager in the Agriculture Department. Wani and Peer Abdul Rashid allegedly facilitated the entry of the incorrect date of birth into his service records by disregarding directions for document verification, thereby facilitating the regularization of his services, investigators said.
The Crime Branch said the investigation established the offences mentioned in the FIR against all three accused. After obtaining the requisite approval and sanction in respect of the two serving government employees, the chargesheet was presented before the court.
The allegations are subject to judicial proceedings, and the accused will have the opportunity to contest the charges before the court.
The Crime Branch has advised members of the public to remain vigilant against fraud and report such incidents to the department. [KNT]
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