The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir on Thursday conducted searches at three locations in Srinagar and Budgam in connection with a COVID-era procurement fraud case involving alleged siphoning of huge government funds.
The searches were conducted in connection with an FIR registered on February 23 at Police Station Economic Offences Wing, Srinagar under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC, read with Section 66-D of the IT Act.
The sections pertains to cheating, forgery of valuable documents, use of forged documents as genuine, criminal conspiracy, and cheating by personation using computer resources.
Officials said the house searches conducted were aimed at securing further evidence, including digital records and financial documents.
“Further investigation is underway,” they said.
According to the EOW, the case was registered following a written complaint submitted by M/s Sanjay Trading Company, Najafgarh, New Delhi, through its proprietor Sanjay Kumar Sahu, who alleged that Emad Muzafar Makdoomi alias Imran Shah of Peerbagh, Srinagar and Vikar Ahmad Bhat Sanatnagar, Srinagar dishonestly induced the firm on the pretext of arranging medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently cheated the company.
A preliminary probe revealed that the accused persons, through deceitful means, fraudulently obtained huge amounts, including funds from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag.
They also attempted to siphon off crores of rupees from Government Medical College, Srinagar, EoW said.
The accused individuals impersonated government officials, posing as delegates and OSD (Supplies), and issued fake allotment orders of various departments and institutions. They further created fake email IDs of the complainant firm and opened fraudulent bank accounts in its name to divert payments.
On the basis of these findings, a formal case was registered and the investigation set into motion.
