Srinagar, Dec 2,: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has produced a chargesheet in a high-value cheating case involving alleged fraud of Rs 38 lakh in connection with a fake gas agency scheme in central Kashmir.
According to officials, the chargesheet pertains to FIR No. 21/2022 registered under Sections 420, 421, 467, 468 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code. The chargesheet has been presented before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam against Zahid Bashir Shagoo, son of Bashir Ahmad Shagoo of Koker Bazar, Srinagar, presently living at Indrabi Colony, Narbal in Budgam district, and his wife Shugufta, also a resident of the same address.
The case originated from a written complaint alleging that Zahid Bashir Shagoo induced the complainant with false assurances of securing a licence for a gas agency and its extension counters. Relying on these promises, the complainant paid ₹38 lakh in good faith. The accused later furnished forged and fabricated documents falsely projected as genuine licences.
Following the complaint, a preliminary verification conducted by Crime Branch Kashmir established the allegations on the face of record. The probe revealed that Zahid Bashir Shagoo, in criminal conspiracy with his wife, deliberately cheated the complainant and issued forged documents to conceal the fraud.
Based on the findings, offences under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471 and 120-B of the RPC were established during investigation. Officials said the chargesheet has been submitted under Section 512 of the Criminal Procedure Code due to the accused remaining absconding from law for a prolonged period.
Authorities further disclosed that the duo already has an established criminal background. In FIR No. 13/2018 registered at Police Station Crime Branch Kashmir under similar provisions of law, the accused had earlier been challaned for cheating and document forgery. Besides, another case, FIR No. 31/2023, is currently under investigation against Zahid Bashir Shagoo at the Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch Kashmir and is reported to be at its final stage. [KNT]
