Srinagar, Feb 26 (KNS) : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked two persons for allegedly duping the government of Rs 27 lakh in a medical procurement scam during the COVID-19 pandemic and foiled their attempt to cheat it of Rs 2.24 crore, officials said on Thursday.
The accused, residents of Peerbagh and Sanat Nagar in Srinagar, allegedly posed as delegates of the J&K Ministry and OSD Supplies to deceive government departments, a spokesperson of the EOW said in a statement issued to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).
A case was registered following a written complaint alleging that the duo impersonated officials and induced departments to transfer payments for medical supplies into fraudulent bank accounts.
"They opened accounts in the names of genuine suppliers through deceitful means and also created fake email IDs to misrepresent the original supplier's identity," the spokesperson said.
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Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had fraudulently obtained Rs 27 lakh from a government office. They had also planned to siphon off Rs 2.24 crore from a government medical institution, which was thwarted by the authorities, the official said.
Based on prima facie evidence, the EOW has registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy, as well as Section 66-D of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
"Further investigation into the matter is underway," the spokesperson added. (KNS)