J&K Crime Branch files charge sheet in forged certificates service fraud case
Synopsis
Two government employees from Bandipora allegedly faked illiteracy and forged birth certificates to extend their service tenures — and drain the state exchequer. J&K's Economic Offences Wing has now filed a charge sheet before a Sumbal court, signalling that service-record fraud is firmly in the Crime Branch's crosshairs.
Key Takeaways
The J&K Crime Branch's EOW Kashmir filed a charge sheet before the Judicial Magistrate Court, Sumbal on 7 June .
Accused are Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Assadullah Bhat , both residents of Rakhi Shilwat, Bandipora district .
The duo allegedly concealed educational qualifications and obtained altered dates of birth via fraudulent certificates to manipulate service records.
The fraud reportedly enabled an unlawful extension of service tenure and caused losses to the state exchequer .
Charges filed under Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) .
The public has been urged to report economic fraud to SSP Abdul Waheed Shah , EOW Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a charge sheet before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Sumbal against two accused who allegedly used forged documents and fraudulent certificates to illegally extend their government service tenure, the agency confirmed on Sunday, 7 June. The case, investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir, marks a significant step in tackling service-record fraud within the state's public sector.
Key Developments in the Case
The charge sheet has been filed under an FIR registered under Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) — covering cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating, and using forged documents as genuine. The two accused are Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, son of Mohammad Jawad Bhat, and Assadullah Bhat, son of Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Rakhi Shilwat in Bandipora district.
How the Alleged Fraud Was Carried Out
According to the EOW's investigation, the accused allegedly concealed their actual educational qualifications and falsely projected themselves as illiterate in official records. They are further accused of obtaining altered dates of birth on the basis of fraudulent certificates, which then led to incorrect entries in their government service records.
The manipulation reportedly enabled the duo to unlawfully extend their service tenure and derive undue financial benefits, resulting in quantifiable losses to the state exchequer, according to the Crime Branch statement.
Role of the Economic Offences Wing
The EOW Kashmir is a specialised unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch, equipped with technical and scientific investigative capacity not typically available with executive police units. The wing handles complex economic crimes that require dedicated investigation beyond routine law-and-order functions. Following the completion of its probe, the EOW presented the charge sheet before the competent court for judicial proceedings to commence.
Public Advisory and Reporting Mechanism
The EOW has urged citizens to remain vigilant against economic fraud and to report any such incidents to Abdul Waheed Shah, Senior Superintendent of Police, EOW Kashmir. Complaints can also be submitted via the wing's official email address for appropriate legal action, the Crime Branch stated.
With the charge sheet now before the court, the case moves into the judicial phase — and its outcome could set a precedent for how J&K authorities handle service-record manipulation in government departments.
Point of View
Forging birth dates — is not a fringe phenomenon in India's public sector; it is a systemic leak that costs exchequers crores over decades of extended tenures. The J&K Crime Branch filing here is notable less for the two accused and more for what it signals: that the EOW is being deployed to audit anomalies in government HR records, not just financial transactions. The real question is how many similar cases exist across J&K's departments that have never been flagged. Without a systematic audit of service records, individual charge sheets remain reactive rather than corrective.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the J&K Crime Branch charge sheet case about?
The J&K Crime Branch's Economic Offences Wing filed a charge sheet against two government employees from Bandipora who allegedly used forged certificates and altered dates of birth to illegally extend their service tenures and gain undue financial benefits. The charge sheet was filed before the Judicial Magistrate Court in Sumbal on 7 June.
Who are the accused in the J&K service fraud case?
The two accused are Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, son of Mohammad Jawad Bhat, and Assadullah Bhat, son of Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bhat — both residents of Rakhi Shilwat in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Under which sections has the charge sheet been filed?
The charge sheet has been filed under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), which is the criminal code applicable in Jammu and Kashmir.
How did the accused allegedly carry out the fraud?
According to the EOW investigation, the accused allegedly concealed their actual educational qualifications by falsely projecting themselves as illiterate, and obtained fraudulent certificates with altered dates of birth. These manipulations led to incorrect entries in their official service records, enabling an unlawful extension of tenure.
How can the public report economic fraud in Jammu and Kashmir?
The EOW Kashmir has urged citizens to report economic fraud to Abdul Waheed Shah, Senior Superintendent of Police, EOW Kashmir. Complaints can also be submitted through the EOW's official email address for appropriate legal action.
