SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said to have identified six persons accused in Curative Survey Private Limited from outside J&K and arresting one among them. 

"On 19.12.2023, it was learnt that a bogus company operating under the name 'Curative Survey Private Limited' scammed and cheated the unsuspecting public through a fraudulent website by falsely promising them significant returns on their investments. The company had deceived the subscribers which persuaded them to invest their hard-earned money with fake promises of returns. After misrepresenting and cheating, the company became unresponsive, leaving subscribers in the dark and leading to chaos, anguish, and protests", reads a statement issued to GNS. 

"Accordingly, a case FIR No. 39/2023 under Section 66D of the IT Act and Section 420 of the IPC was registered in Cyber Police Station in Kashmir Zone-Srinagar, police said."

"Taking into account the serious nature of the matter, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate the case, police added", reads the statement. 

During the course of investigation, the statement reads, it was discovered that the company had opened six offices in the Kashmir Valley and one regional office in Jammu in the month of January–February 2023. "All seven offices were subsequently searched, sealed and the incriminating evidence found in these offices was seized and sent to the FSL for analysis and expert opinion. Numerous employees of the company from across Jammu and Kashmir were identified, examined and their statements recorded. Additionally, a number of victims also approached SIT and their statements were recorded, the statement reads. 

"Based on the statement of victims, technical and digital evidence, the SIT identified six accused persons, all residents outside the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Different Police teams were constituted to arrest the identified accused persons. One accused person has been arrested by the SIT from Tamil Nadu and is taken on police remand. Efforts are afoot to arrest the remaining accused persons also. The extent of financial loss to victims is being assessed by collection of related evidence and the statement of witnesses. All the company's account numbers have been debit-frozen, and further investigation is ongoing. Involvement of employees and local contacts of the main accused persons is being investigated", reads the statement. 

"The social media influencers who promoted the company through various social media platforms were also examined and their involvement in crime is being investigated. So far, Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar has received 27 complaints", reads the statement.

"The general public is requested to come forward if they have any complaints regarding this company", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A major scam involving financial fraud worth crores has surfed in the Kashmir Valley after investors alleged that they were duped of their hard earned money by some private company based in the Valley.

According to details available with the news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO) some investors today held a protest in Srinagar alleging that they were duped by a private investment firm of their hard earned money.

“We were lured to invest money in the company stating that the money you invest will get doubled within 15 days. This prompted us to invest money in the firm and in the first few months they received the money as promised, however, after sometime they didn’t get any response from the firm, which created doubt in their minds,” said one of the protestors.

She said that she along with her other family members invested around Rs 5 lakh in the firm and they were motivated by a social media influencer after he had posted some videos on his YouTube channel, claiming the the firm was authentic and he himself has invested his money in the same firm.

“A few days ago we tried to contact the firm and its employees, but we have not been getting any response. We have now been duped of our hard earned money. This company is fraud as it cheated many people here and duped them of crores,” she added.

Meanwhile, local employees who were working in the firm and were directly dealing with the customers or investors claimed that they have themselves been duped of their money as were not aware of firm’s credentials. 

“We would be asked by administrators of the firm, who are based in Chennai and would sometimes stay in Srinagar also, to ask customers and investors to invest their money based on some plans and their money would be doubled in 15 days,” said one of the employees of the firm.

He said that initially the doubled amount was credited in the bank accounts of customers or investors and they themselves (employees) also started to invest their salaries in the firm, however, they have also been duped of the money as well as of their employment. 

A senior officer of Cyber Police Kashmir told KNO that they have received some complaints against the firm and they taken cognisance of the same. “We are further investigating the matter and those involved will be bright to justice,” he said.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing of Jammu Crime Branch Jammu on Saturday produced preliminary charge-sheet against four accused persons for their involvement in hatching criminal conspiracy and swindling Rs. 5 Crore from different Branches of J&K Bank across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Crime Branch spokesman said that the chargesheet wasproduced against prime accused namely Saleem Yousaf Bhatti of Narol, Mendhar, Poonch in the Court of law for their involvement in hatching criminal conspiracy and swindling Rs. 5 Crores from different Branches of J&K Bank across the UT of J&K, particularly from District Poonch, as loans of different nature, on the pretext of Government Scheme under integrated water Management Programme meant for District Poonch.

The prime accused and mastermind who was previously working as a contractual based employee in the IWMP – a Central Govt. Sponsored Scheme executed his nefarious designs by misusing his position and misrepresentation of facts.

The other co-accused arrested in the case are Mohd Altaf, Ruksana Tabassum and Zahida Parveen, all residents of Ari, Mendhar Poonch.

The investigation in the case began following a complaint lodged by Chief Manager S&C Division, Zonal Office J&K Bank Ltd. Jammu, alleging that Saleem Yousaf Bhatti who was a contractual employee with Integrated Watershed Management Programme Department at Poonch and others had illegally activated the in-active accounts of Watershed Committee at J&K Bank Branch Lassana, Surankote Poonch.

Subsequently, the accused persons changed nomenclature of the accounts, fabricated fake salary certificates and confirmation letters to different non-existing employees and managed personal loans, cash credit loans and car loans etc in crores by presenting themselves as Government Employees.
The accused persons have also managed to open fraudulent Government accounts J&K Bank Branch Office Mendhar and Branch office Bus stand Mendhar.

The spokesman said that the accused have firstly deposited money through different Banks/Branches in the accounts of watershed committee and the fake accounts opened by them, issued fake authority letters instructing the Branches to disburse & credit the salaries in individual accounts which were later on projected as Government Employees and thus they managed to obtain loan from different other Branches of the Bank thereby causing wrongful loss to the tune of Rs. approximately 5 Crores.

On receipt of the complaint a preliminary verification was initiated and during the probe the allegations were prima facie substantiated, leading to the registration of formal case for in-depth investigation.

During the course of investigation, relevant record was seized, statements of witnesses recorded, Scientific, circumstantial and other material evidence was collected and offences were established against them.

“All these loans are now Non Performing Assets (NPA) of the J&K Bank. Investigation of the case is in progress to identify and arrest other accused involved in the crime and other nexus in the case,” he added. (UNI)

Police said on Tuesday, Police Station Khansahib received information from reliable sources indicating about involvement of a group of individuals in the illicit trade of counterfeit gold biscuits.

Acting on the tip off, a suspect vehicle was intercepted near Gogjipathri crossing in the Khansahib area with three persons on board.

The trio were identified as Fayaz Ahmad Dar a resident of Malwa Kunzar, Farooq Ahmad Dar of Arizal Khansahib and Shabir Ahmad Dar a resident of Arizal Khansahib were arrested.

During the search of the vehicle, 239 gold-like biscuits suspected to be counterfeit were recovered.

The accused individuals were unable to substantiate the authenticity of the items and were arrested on the spot.

A case under relevant sections of law, stands registered at Police station Khansahib and investigation set into motion.

Initial investigation suggests that these persons were allegedly selling these fake gold biscuits to buyers at exorbitant rates and deceiving them, police added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Criminals have found an innovative method to loot money from naïve people by using computer-generated voice sounds of victims’ friends and relatives. All this they are doing with the help of Artificial Intelligence based applications.

Jammu Kashmir Police in this regard have issued an advisory asking people to stay alert.

“The Artificial Intelligence-based voice cloning is the new cyber crime in news. Apple Ios7 and various apps and sites like Heyge, Murf and Resemble Al etc. are being used for voice cloning,” police in advisory has noted.

The advisory reads that the criminals are using computer generated voice sound to act as friends and relatives and in the process, money can be lost.

Sharing the modus operandi, police said that the Ai-ml (artificial intelligence/ machine learning) model learns the patterns and characteristics from the person’s voice recordings. (speech patterns, accents, voice inflection and even breathing).

Police stated that learning includes pronunciation of words, tone of the voice and emotions. Now criminals use this Al-ml model to convert text to speech as it generates a waveform to represent the sound of any person.”“

The computer-generated call is then used by the criminal to call his/her relatives or friends and based upon the familiarity of the voice, the victim ends up paying the money,” he said.

Police however, spreading awareness on the concern said that the receiver must listen carefully to unnatural pause or robotic speech styles, look for errors in pronunciation or speaking tone.

“The voice can be compared with the original person and notice if the voice lacks emotional expression or difference.” 

“The receiver must always try to call the original person with the saved number to recheck, adding, “the voice sample or recordings shall not be shared to an unknown person while limiting access to sensitive voice recordings or audio files.” (KNT)

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing Srinagar (Crime Branch Kashmir) produced chargesheet against a land-broker and another person accused of cheating a client in Gulab Bagh Pandach in central Kashmir's Srinagar district. 

A CBK spokesperson in a statement issued to GNS said, a chargesheet in Case FIR No. 27/2021 of P/S Crime Branch Kashmir against Brij Nath Bhat, S/o Late Tara Chand Bhat, R/o Indira Nagar, Srinagar (a/p House No. 156, Amit Nagar, Muthi, District Jammu) and Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, S/o Abdul Ahad Sheikh, R/o Sichen Bannet, Beerwah, District Budgam before the Hon’ble Court of Judge Small Causes Srinagar for their alleged involvement in commission of offences punishable under Sections 420, 468, 471 & 120-B of RPC.

"The case owes its origin to a written complaint received in Crime Branch Kashmir wherein it was alleged that the accused Brij Nath Bhat along with Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh (land broker) had entered into an “agreement to sell” in respect of a plot of land ostensibly measuring 01 Kanal and 10 Marlas situated at Gulabh Bagh, Pandachh, Srinagar (recorded under Khasra No. 749/min; mutation No. 1554) to the complainant and his brother. Pursuant to said agreement, the complainant had transferred an amount of Rs. 47.20 lakh to the bank account of the accused Brij Nath Bhat. However, even after receiving the consideration amount in full, the accused persons had failed to transfer the land to the complainant. It was further alleged that the accused persons are absconding from their known addresses and have also changed their mobile phone numbers etc", reads the statement as per GNS. 

"Accordingly, the instant case was registered at P/S Crime Branch Kashmir in the year 2021 and investigation started."

"Based on the facts unearthed and irrefutable evidence collected during investigation, the case was concluded as ‘‘proved” against the accused persons. The chargesheet has accordingly been presented against the two accused persons in the court of competent jurisdiction for judicial determination. However, due to the fact that the main accused (Brij Nath Bhat) is absconding, chargesheet against him has been presented in absentia u/S 512 CrPC", reads the statement. 

"A “Hue and Cry” notice has also been published in newspapers to facilitate in tracing out the absconding accused Brij Nath Bhat, S/o Late Tara Chand Bhat", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Authorities have suspended a government employee in Pulwama found drawing salary from two departments.

As per news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), an official of the FCSCA Department said that they received a complaint from ACB as well as from other quarters against a Fair Price shop dealer in Sail Awantipora named Javid Ahmad Bhat.

It was alleged that Bhat was working in Srinagar Municipal Corporation since 2002 and was simultaneously working in FCSCA Department Pulwama as Fair Price Shop dealer till 2017 before managing to transfer the license in the name of his daughter Asiya Javid.

He said that Assistant Director FCSCA Pulwama in order to confirm the contents of the complaint took up the issue with the Commissioner SMC Srinagar and Manager JK Bank Branch Balgarden.

"While perusing the service records of the above person, it came to fore that Javid Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Shaban Bhat of Chersoo Awantipora has changed his name to Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh son of Bashir Ahmad Sheikh of Narwara Safa Kadal Eidgah Srinagar. The

a photograph attached with his service book at SMC Office has authenticated that Javid Ahmad Bhat and Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh are one person," he said .

He said that Bhat has caused loss to state exchequer by withdrawing commission from FCSCA Department and monthly salary from SMC Kashmir.

"He cannot hold two offices at one time and is liable for criminal prosecution," the official added. He said that the first FPS license Sail Awantipora in the name of Asiya Javid was placed under suspension and her monthly quota was diverted to the nearest sale centre.

He said that a show cause notice was also served to the accused to prove his point but his answer wasn't satisfactory and the department has ordered for cancellation of the licence.

He added that the department has written to SSP crime as well to recover the amount he has withdrawn illegally.

He said that the licence has been cancelled as it was issued by fraudulent means. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: Two thugs deprived a woman of her hard-earned money in the name of magic in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

The naïve woman had set apart Rs 70,000 for her daughter’s marriage. Thugs befooled the mother-daughter duo in the absence of any male member in the house.

The incident occurred on 9 Muharram in Zurgund village of Budgam.

While talking to news agency Kashmir News Trust the daughter of the victim Saleem Bano wife of late Ghulam Muhammad Dar said that two persons entered their house with the claim that they double the money.

“The duo claimed that they provide amulets to people to ease their sufferings. They started telling us that all their problems will be solved while one of them asked my mother where she has kept the money meant for the marriage of her daughter,” she said.

“We were only two in the house. My mother trusted them and hoped that they will double the money. She handed over Rs 70,000 to them. I don’t know what happened then as I went to the kitchen to prepare tea for them. When I returned they handed over a weighty packet tied by a thread covered by Rs 10 note.”

One of them asked us to open the packet after 9 days. “I checked the weight of the packet and thought money is there but today when we opened it, there were pieces of paper.”

She said that they have registered a complaint at the police station.

The victim Saleema said that the money siphoned from her was meant for the marriage of her daughter.

 An official said that CCTV footage has been obtained and efforts are on to nab both thugs. [KNT] 

SRINAGAR: Crime Branch Kashmir on Friday said that its Economic Offences Wing Srinagar produced chargesheet in a court against 9 people for securing jobs Fraudently in SKIMS Soura.

In a handout to GNS, the CBK said that its Economic Offences Wing, Srinagar [Crime Branch Kashmir] produced the charge-report in Case FIR No. 26/2015 u/Ss 420, 468, 471 & 120-B RPC of P/S Crime Branch Kashmir against nine persons for their alleged involvement in fraudulently securing jobs in SKIMS Soura after having committed criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery of certificates etc.
 
According to spokesman, the case owes its origin to an official communication received by Crime Branch Kashmir from the Director, SKIMS Soura who complained that pursuant to SKIMS Soura order No. SIMS-23 (P) of 2015, among others, (i) Shakoor Ahmad Tantray S/o Mohammad Yousuf Tantray R/o Ponipora Kulgam; (ii) Mohammad Shahid Murtaza S/o Mohammad Shaban Dar R/o Wanpora Kulgam; (iii) Shazia Hassan D/o Gh. Hassan R/o Kulpora Srandoo Kulgam; (iv) Mudasir Bashir Sofi S/o Bashir Ahmad Sofi R/o Noorbagh Kulgam and (v) Shameem Ahmad Naik S/o Hamidullah Naik R/o Banimullah Kulgam were appointed as Nursing Orderlies subject to verification/ genuineness of their academic credentials/ D.O.B. certificates etc. However, as per the verification report furnished by the Joint Secretary (Verification), J&K State Board of School Education, Kashmir it transpired that the academic/ D.O.B. certificates submitted by the above-named individuals were fake and forged. Accordingly, Case FIR No. 26 of 2015 came to be registered in P/S Crime Branch Kashmir and investigation was started to probe into the allegations.
 
During investigation it was determined that, in addition to the five accused individuals named above,  two more individuals, viz., Aamir Hassan Khan S/o Ghulam Hassan Khan R/o Badrakund Ganderbal and Jehangir Ahmad Dar S/o Gh. Hassan Dar R/o Ashmuji Kulgam had also produced fake/ forged certificates for securing the said job in SKIMS Soura. It also came to fore during investigation that two persons, viz., Rashid-ul-Hassan Gojjar S/o Gh. Hassan R/o Aarigutnoo Kulgam and Mohammad Akbar Lone (now deceased) S/o Gh. Rasool Lone R/o Gund Fatehpora Anantnag were responsible for forging and fabrication of the marks cards for monetary considerations, he said.
 
Evidence collected during investigation has established individual and collective criminal culpability and proved that offences punishable U/Ss 420, 468, 471 & 120-B RPC have been committed by the nine accused persons; accordingly, charge-report (challan) of the instant Case has been presented before the Hon’ble Court of Forest Magistrate, Srinagar for judicial determination, reads the statement.(GNS)