Srinagar, Dec 2(KNS): The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet in a ?38 lakh cheating case involving alleged fraud in the name of securing a gas agency licence, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the chargesheet in FIR No. 21/2022, registered under Sections 420, 421, 467, 468 and 120-B of the RPC, has been submitted before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam against two accused — Zahid Bashir Shagoo, son of Bashir Ahmad Shagoo, and his wife Shugufta, residents of Koker Bazar, Srinagar, currently living in Narbal, Budgam.

In a statement issued to KNS, the case was registered following a written complaint alleging that Zahid Bashir Shagoo deceitfully promised to arrange a licence for establishing a gas agency, for which the complainant paid ?38 lakh. The accused later provided fabricated documents claiming them to be genuine licences, officials said.

A preliminary verification established the allegations, revealing that the accused, in alleged criminal conspiracy with his wife, collected money from the complainant on the pretext of providing a gas agency and extension counters and issued forged documents, they added.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Offences under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471 and 120-B RPC were found to be made out during the enquiry.

The subsequent investigation reinforced the evidence of cheating and forgery, leading to the filing of the chargesheet under Section 512 CrPC as both accused are absconding, officials said.

Crime Branch officials said the accused duo had earlier been chargesheeted in a similar case (FIR No. 13/2018) and another case (FIR No. 31/2023) is also under investigation against Zahid Bashir Shagoo and is at its final stage.

The Crime Branch Kashmir reiterated its commitment to take firm action against fraud and economic offences, officials added.(KNS).