The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet before the Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla, exposing a deep-rooted forgery and fraud conspiracy within the Power Development Department (PDD) of Jammu and Kashmir. The case, registered as FIR No. 46/2023, involves fabricated appointment orders, a forged service book, and fraudulent salary disbursements spanning over a decade. The chargesheet was filed on Saturday, April 25, 2025, by the EOW's Srinagar unit.

Who Is Named in the Chargesheet

The chargesheet has been filed against three accused — Nasir Ahmad Mir of Kunan Babagund, Bandipora; Mushtaq Ahmad Malik of Aragam, Bandipora, a serving government employee with KPDCL (Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited); and a deceased former Executive Engineer of KPDCL/ED Sumbal, a resident of Jammu.

The case originated from a written complaint alleging fraudulent appointments within the Power Development Department, prompting the EOW to launch a detailed investigation into the matter.

How the Fraud Was Executed

Investigators found that Nasir Ahmad Mir had fraudulently secured government employment using a fabricated appointment order, purportedly issued under SRO-43 of 1994 — a provision meant to accommodate candidates from specific qualifying family circumstances. However, the said order was found to be entirely missing from official government records, raising serious red flags about its existence.

The investigation further revealed that Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, then serving as a Senior Assistant in the department, had prepared a forged service book for Nasir Ahmad Mir, falsely reflecting his appointment under SRO-43. Forensic analysis conclusively confirmed that the entries and signatures in the service book were authored by Mushtaq Ahmad Malik himself.

Additionally, no official dispatch or receipt records were found to support the issuance of the alleged appointment order. Verification conducted by the then Tehsildar, Bandipora, confirmed that Nasir Ahmad Mir did not meet the eligibility criteria under SRO-43, as no qualifying family circumstances existed in his case.

Role of the Deceased Executive Engineer

Despite these glaring discrepancies, the deceased former Executive Engineer of KPDCL/ED Sumbal facilitated the disbursement of salary to Nasir Ahmad Mir in 2009 — more than three years after the purported date of appointment — without conducting any proper verification of credentials or documentation.

This act of deliberate negligence, or active complicity, enabled the fraudulent employee to draw government salary for years, causing direct financial loss to the state exchequer. The inclusion of the deceased engineer in the chargesheet signals that J&K's investigative agencies are not shying away from accountability even when accused individuals are no longer alive.

Charges Filed and Legal Provisions Invoked

The EOW has established a criminal conspiracy among all the accused involving forgery, cheating, and misuse of official position. Offences under Sections 420, 468, 471, and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) have been invoked, along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the public servants involved.

The chargesheet has now been submitted before the Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla, for judicial adjudication. This marks a significant step in the J&K administration's ongoing crackdown on corruption within government departments.

Broader Implications and Pattern of Corruption in J&K Departments

This case is not an isolated incident. Over the past few years, J&K's Crime Branch and Anti-Corruption Bureau have unearthed multiple instances of fraudulent appointments, forged documents, and ghost employees across various departments — from education to power distribution. The PDD and KPDCL have been under scrutiny for systemic irregularities that reportedly date back decades.

Notably, the use of SRO-43 of 1994 — a provision designed to support genuinely vulnerable families — as a vehicle for fraudulent appointments reflects a pattern of exploiting welfare-oriented government schemes for personal gain. Critics argue that such scams thrive due to weak internal audit mechanisms and insufficient inter-departmental verification protocols.

With the chargesheet now before the court, the judicial process will determine the quantum of accountability. Observers and anti-corruption advocates will be watching closely to see whether the trial leads to swift conviction — a benchmark that has historically been elusive in J&K's bureaucratic fraud cases. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how the post-reorganization Union Territory handles corruption within its power sector.