Srinagar, Aug 1: In a significant day of judicial proceedings, City Judge Abdul Bari on Thursday delivered convictions in four long-pending criminal cases involving charges of negligent homicide, forgery, cheating, and cheque dishonour.
In the first case, Jaseem Hussain Kawoosa, a resident of Nowhatta, was convicted under Sections 304A, 279, and 427 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) along with provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act for causing the death of Aatif Mudabbir Dar in a road accident in December 2010.
The court observed that Kawoosa was driving an uninsured car in a “reckless and dangerous manner” near Parraypora and fled the scene after crashing into the victim’s vehicle. The charge sheet was filed in 2011, and the judgment was delivered after the deposition of 19 prosecution witnesses.
In another case dating back to 2002, the court convicted seven individuals—including then Board of School Education superintendent Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar and Bilal Ahmad Bhat-for forging and using fake matriculation certificates to secure admissions in Boys Higher Secondary School, Baramulla. The accused were found guilty under Sections 420, 468, 471, and 120B of the RPC. The court concluded that the fake documents were prepared and circulated as part of a criminal conspiracy, with assistance from education board insiders.
In a third case, the court convicted two brothers from Dalgate, Mukhtar Ahmad Guroo and Nazir Ahmad Guro, for cheating a UK national of over Rs 34 lakh under the pretext of purchasing property in Srinagar.
According to the prosecution, Mukhtar, under the guise of a personal relationship, induced the complainant to transfer funds which were later used to buy property in his own name. Nazir facilitated the crime by allowing the funds to be parked in his bank account. The court found Mukhtar guilty under Section 420 RPC and Nazir under Sections 420 and 109.
In the fourth conviction, Bilal Ahmad Sheikh of Kadlabal, Pampore, was sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment and fined Rs 11.48 lakh under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
The case pertained to two cheques amounting to Rs 10.25 lakh issued to Umar Bashir Thoker of Lasjan, which were dishonoured due to insufficient funds. The cheques were part of a settlement for a dumper vehicle that was later found to be under a bank lien.
The court rejected the accused's defense and ordered payment within a month of the appeal period, failing which Sheikh will face an additional three months in jail.
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