 Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: In a decisive action against fraud and manipulation of official records, the Special Crime Wing (Crime Branch) Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 07/2022 before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Handwara. The case pertains to an employee of the Public Works Department (R&B) who allegedly forged his date of birth to obtain illegal regularisation, said the Crime Branch Kashmir, in a statement.
According to officials, the chargesheet—filed on December 11, 2025—invokes sections 420, 468, 471, and 201 of the RPC, relating to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, and destruction of evidence.
The case originated from a communication issued by the Under Secretary to the Government, Public Works Department (R&B), seeking an investigation into the suspected manipulation of the date of birth of Abdul Rashid Lone, son of Mohammad Ahsan Lone, a resident of Chogal, Handwara. Lone was employed as a “Helper” in the R&B Division.
During an initial inquiry, Crime Branch Kashmir found that the accused had allegedly produced a fake medical certificate showing his date of birth as 01-04-1968 in order to secure undue regularisation in the department. However, further verification revealed that his actual date of birth, as per school records, was 04-04-1950—indicating an 18-year discrepancy.
Following these findings, Crime Branch Kashmir registered a formal case and took up a detailed investigation. The probe established that the accused, in criminal conspiracy, had forged and used a fake date of birth certificate to fraudulently prolong his service benefits.
Officials said the investigation brought forth prima facie evidence of cheating, forgery, destruction of evidence and conspiracy, leading to the filing of the chargesheet for judicial determination. |
