Muskan Thakur
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 8: The Crime Branch's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed a chargesheet against a brother and sister from Janipur, Jammu, accusing them of cheating people with the promise of jobs and visas abroad. The siblings, Akash Sharma and Poonam Sharma, are accused of luring a Jammu family with a fake Australian job offer.
The chargesheet was filed before the Court of the 13th Judicial Magistrate/FC, Jammu, in FIR No. 08/2026 of Police Station Crime Branch (EOW), Jammu. The accused are booked under Sections 420, 468, 120-B and 201 of the RPC, and Sections 10 and 24 of the Emigration Act, 1983.
The case began with a written complaint from Jaspal Singh, a resident of Digiana, Jammu. He alleged that he paid Rs 2.30 lakh by cheque to the accused in the hope of securing an Australian work visa for his son.
According to the Crime Branch, Poonam Sharma won the complainant's trust by handing him a job offer letter supposedly issued by "Drillfit Energy Queensland, Australia". The payment followed, the agency alleges.
The investigation, led by DySP Vishal Sharma, allegedly found irregularities in M/s Futuristic Education Consultancy, reportedly run by the siblings. Records from the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Jammu, show that the consultancy's registration was valid only until March 31, 2015. The Crime Branch alleges it continued operating after that date without renewal or valid authorisation.
The agency alleges that Akash Sharma ran the consultancy as its proprietor, while Poonam Sharma worked as an agent, making promises to unemployed youth looking for work and opportunities abroad.
The Crime Branch also alleges that the siblings had been involved in similar criminal activity before.
With the investigation complete, the chargesheet has been placed before the competent court, which will determine the allegations.
The SSP, Crime Branch EOW Jammu, urged people to be careful when dealing with immigration and overseas employment consultancies. Verify a consultancy's credentials and authorisation before paying any money, the SSP advised. |
