EOW Registers Case Over Fake NHM Selection List Scam
Authorities probe forgery and fraud by NGO officials misusing COVID-19 manpower scheme
Srinagar, Oct 4: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Crime Branch Kashmir, has registered a case in connection with the circulation of a forged National Health Mission (NHM) selection list in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.
The case follows a complaint by the State Nodal Officer, NHM J&K, who reported that a fake order, allegedly signed by the Mission Director, was circulating widely on social media, creating confusion among aspirants. The fraudulent document was titled “Provisional Selection List of Candidates for Different Posts (Kashmir Division) against Notification No. SHS/NHM/J&K/HR/10259 dated 10.05.2021.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, an NGO, J&K Health Care Services, had been approved by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, to provide voluntary manpower in medical blocks to address staff shortages. However, the NGO management allegedly misused this approval, collecting documents and money from volunteers under the false pretext of securing permanent NHM positions and later creating a fake selection list by forging the Mission Director’s signature.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Naik, Abdul Qayoom Khan, Mohammad Ashraf Hurrah, Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, and Hilal Ahmad Bahar from different areas of Kashmir.
The EOW said the acts prima facie constitute offences under Sections 420, 468, 471, 120-B RPC and Section 66-D of the IT Act, and a formal case has been registered for further investigation.
Authorities have urged candidates and the public to verify all NHM-related documents through official channels and report suspicious activities.
