J&K Crime Branch charges retired engineer for DOB forgery in service records
Synopsis
A retired Superintendent Engineer of J&K's State Power Development Corporation allegedly shifted his date of birth by three years in official records to extend his service tenure — then destroyed his original service book to cover his tracks. The Crime Branch's Economic Offences Wing has now filed a chargesheet before a Srinagar court, with forensic and board verification reports confirming the manipulation.
Key Takeaways
J&K Crime Branch filed a chargesheet on 18 May 2025 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar .
The accused, a retired Superintendent Engineer of J&K SPDC , allegedly altered his date of birth from 28 October 1955 to 28 October 1958 in service records.
The manipulation was confirmed by FSL Srinagar and J&K BOSE verification reports.
The accused also destroyed his original service book, attracting charges under Section 201 RPC (destruction of evidence).
The case was registered as FIR No.
09/2015 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 , and 201 RPC .
The public can report economic fraud to EOW Kashmir at sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in .
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch filed a chargesheet on Monday, 18 May before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against a retired Superintendent Engineer of the J&K State Power Development Corporation (SPDC), accusing him of fraudulently altering his date of birth in official service records and subsequently destroying evidence to conceal the manipulation.
The Alleged Fraud
According to the Crime Branch, the accused allegedly changed his recorded date of birth from 28 October 1955 to 28 October 1958 in his official service records — a three-year shift that investigators say was engineered to secure undue service benefits, including an extended tenure before superannuation. The case was registered as FIR No. 09/2015 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 201 RPC, covering charges of cheating, forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating, using forged documents, and destruction of evidence.
How the Manipulation Was Uncovered
The probe was initiated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir following a written complaint alleging tampering with service records. Forensic verification by FSL Srinagar and the J&K Board of School Education (BOSE) confirmed the date-of-birth alteration. Investigators further found that the accused had destroyed his original service book to prevent detection, leading to the invocation of Section 201 RPC — which deals with causing disappearance of evidence of an offence.
What the Chargesheet Says
The EOW, after concluding its investigation and finding the case proved against the accused, submitted the chargesheet to the court for judicial determination. The Crime Branch stated that the accused, who has since retired, exploited his position as the then in-charge Superintendent Engineer to carry out the manipulation over a period of time. The matter will now proceed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar.
Crime Branch Issues Public Advisory
Alongside the chargesheet filing, the J&K Crime Branch issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against economic fraudsters. Members of the public can report such incidents to SSP EOW Kashmir or submit complaints via email at sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in. The Crime Branch operates two dedicated wings — one for the Kashmir Valley and one for the Jammu division — with specialised teams handling economic offences that require focused investigative expertise.
This case is among a series of service-record fraud investigations the EOW has pursued in recent years, reflecting a broader push by J&K authorities to crack down on manipulation of government employment records for personal gain.
Point of View
But cases rarely reach the chargesheet stage a decade after FIR registration — FIR No. 09/2015 was filed ten years ago. That gap raises questions about investigative pace at EOW units. The use of forensic document analysis and board verification to confirm the alteration is notable, but the destruction of the original service book points to a systemic gap: physical service books, still the primary record in many J&K departments, remain vulnerable to tampering. Until records are fully digitised and audit-trailed, similar manipulations will be difficult to detect before retirement benefits are already drawn.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the J&K Crime Branch chargesheet case about?
The J&K Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against a retired Superintendent Engineer of the J&K State Power Development Corporation for allegedly altering his date of birth in official service records from 28 October 1955 to 28 October 1958, and then destroying his original service book to hide the manipulation. The case was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar on 18 May 2025.
Under which sections has the chargesheet been filed?
The chargesheet was filed under Sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). The FIR was originally registered as FIR No. 09/2015.
How was the date-of-birth manipulation confirmed?
The manipulation was confirmed through forensic analysis by FSL Srinagar and a verification report from the J&K Board of School Education (BOSE). Both reports corroborated that the date of birth recorded in service documents had been altered.
Why was Section 201 RPC invoked against the accused?
Section 201 RPC, which pertains to causing the disappearance of evidence, was invoked because the accused allegedly destroyed his original service book — the primary document that would have revealed the authentic date of birth — in order to conceal the fraud.
How can citizens report economic fraud to J&K Crime Branch?
Citizens can report economic fraud directly to the SSP, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir, or send written complaints to the official email address sspeow-kmr@jkpolice.gov.in. The Crime Branch operates dedicated EOW teams in both the Kashmir Valley and Jammu division.
