Srinagar Woman Named in Chargesheet as Crime Branch Busts Fake Job Land Racket
EOW exposes large scale fraud involving fake shop allotments, plots, and government job appointments
Srinagar, Dec 25: In a significant crackdown on fraud and economic offences, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a high-profile fake jobs and land allotment scam, exposing how a government employee allegedly deceived unemployed youth and underprivileged families using forged allotment and appointment orders.
The chargesheet, filed under FIR No. 54/2023 before the 4th Additional Munsiff Judge, Srinagar, names Fouzia Afzal, a Class-IV employee posted in the office of the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, as the accused. She allegedly issued fake allotment orders for shops and plots, using fabricated signatures of the Additional Deputy Commissioner and forged seals of the District Magistrate, Srinagar.
Investigation revealed that the accused collected large sums from victims under the pretext of providing shops at Jehangir Chowk, 5-marla plots at Bemina, and appointment orders for Junior Assistant posts in various government departments. The forged documents were designed to appear legitimate, making the scam more convincing.
Further probe confirmed that Fouzia Afzal operated in her personal capacity after office hours, impersonating senior officials from multiple departments, including the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, and the Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Kashmir.
The investigation also noted that Fouzia Afzal is a habitual offender, with multiple FIRs registered against her across Srinagar, and other complaints under probe by EOW Kashmir. She has been suspended, and a departmental inquiry has recommended her premature retirement under Article 226(2) of J&K Service Conduct Rules, as per a report dated Oct 14, 2023.
The investigation concluded that the allegations were “PROVED”, and the chargesheet has now been submitted for judicial adjudication.
