SRINAGAR, Jan 19: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir (CBK) has filed a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department employee for allegedly fraudulently availing migrant relief amounting to over Rs 18.30 lakh, officials said.
The charge sheet has been produced before the Court of the 19th Electricity Magistrate, Jammu, against Mohd Hussain Shah, a resident of Syedapura in Shopian district, presently residing at Nunar Kawabagh, Ganderbal.
The accused is a retired employee of the PHE Department, Ganderbal Division.
According to officials, the case originated from a written complaint alleging that the accused had unlawfully registered himself and his family members as migrants and illegally obtained migrant relief benefits despite being in active government service at the relevant time. Following receipt of the complaint, the Economic Offences Wing initiated a detailed investigation.
During the probe, it was prima facie established that the accused had deliberately misrepresented his employment status and concealed material facts to secure migrant registration, thereby making himself ineligible for the relief. Investigators found that Shah continued to draw migrant relief payments in cash over a period of time, resulting in a wrongful loss of Rs 18,30,265 to the government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to himself.
On the basis of documentary and oral evidence collected during the investigation, the agency concluded that the acts of omission and commission on the part of the accused attracted offences punishable under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). After completion of all statutory and procedural formalities, the Economic Offences Wing presented the charge sheet before the competent court for judicial scrutiny and further legal proceedings.
The EOW Kashmir reiterated its commitment to taking stringent action against economic offences and emphasised that misuse of government welfare schemes would not be tolerated, stating that safeguarding public funds remains a key priority for the agency.
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