Srinagar, Jan 19 (KNS): The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch, Kashmir, has filed a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) department employee for allegedly fraudulently availing migrant relief amounting to ?18.30 lakh, officials said.
The charge sheet, as per statement, has been presented before the Court of the 19th Electricity Magistrate, Jammu, against Mohd Hussain Shah, a resident of Syedapura in Shopian, presently residing at Nunar Kawabagh in Ganderbal. Shah served in the PHE Department, Ganderbal division, and has since retired.
According to officials, the case was registered following a written complaint alleging that the accused had unlawfully registered himself and his family members as migrants and obtained cash relief despite being in active government service at the relevant time.
During the investigation, the EOW found that Shah had allegedly misrepresented his employment status and suppressed material facts to secure migrant registration, making him ineligible for the relief.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelInvestigators further established that he continued to receive migrant relief benefits over a period, causing wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding gain to himself.
The probe revealed that the total relief amount fraudulently obtained by the accused was ?18,30,265. On the basis of evidence collected, the EOW concluded that the acts constituted an offence punishable under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).
After completing statutory and procedural formalities, the charge sheet was filed for judicial scrutiny, officials said.
The Economic Offences Wing reiterated its commitment to act against economic crimes and prevent misuse of government welfare schemes, an official statement said.(KNS).