Jammu, November 9: The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has formally filed a comprehensive charge sheet in the alleged embezzlement case involving ₹84 lakh, implicating two employees of a filling station in Ramban district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Crime, Jammu, Benam Tosh, confirmed the development, noting that the charge sheet was submitted on Saturday to a local court in Banihal for judicial review.
The case involves Mohd Ashraf Rather from Baramulla and Aftab Ahmad Bhat from Banihal, against whom charges were initially filed at the Banihal police station in 2021. Following a preliminary inquiry, the case was escalated to the Crime Branch Jammu for an in-depth probe, prompted by the gravity of the alleged financial misconduct.
According to the SSP, the investigation is now complete, with the charge sheet meticulously compiled in five sections, detailing the alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, and cheating attributed to Rather and Bhat. The case stemmed from a complaint by Javed Ahmad Wani, the owner of the filling station, who accused his manager, Rather, and employee, Bhat, of orchestrating a scheme to siphon funds over a period of time, resulting in significant financial losses.
The charge sheet’s submission highlights the Crime Branch’s commitment to addressing economic crimes and ensuring accountability. The court proceedings will now determine the next steps in the judicial process as the case moves toward resolution.