Srinagar, Dec 12,: The Special Crime Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet against a Public Works Department employee accused of forging his date of birth to secure illegal regularisation. The charge sheet in Case FIR No. 07 of 2022 under sections 420, 468, 471 and 201 of the Ranbir Penal Code was produced before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Handwara on December 11.
The case originated from an official communication by the Public Works Department seeking investigation into the alleged fake date of birth of Abdul Rashid Lone, son of Muhammad Ahsan Lone of Chogal Handwara, who had been serving as a Helper in the R&B Division. Following the complaint, Crime Branch Kashmir initiated a preliminary enquiry.
Investigators found that at the time of his regularisation, the accused had produced a medical certificate showing his date of birth as April 1, 1968. Verification, however, revealed that the school records documented his date of birth as April 4, 1950. In view of the contradiction, a formal FIR was registered and a detailed investigation was taken up.
According to the Crime Branch, the probe established that the accused, acting in a criminal conspiracy, fabricated and used a forged date of birth certificate to obtain undue service benefits. The investigation also indicated prima facie evidence of cheating, forgery and destruction of evidence.
Officials said the charge sheet has now been placed before the court for judicial scrutiny. The Special Crime Wing reiterated that attempts to falsify records for personal gain will face strict legal action and stated that it remains committed to transparent and thorough investigations in all such cases. [KNT]
