SRINAGAR: A court in Srinagar dismissed the bail plea on Thursday for an individual accused of creating a fake website in the name of the Health and Medical Education Department.
The accused, Sajad Hussain Zargar of Bemina, was alleged to have “uploaded fake orders to lure unemployed youth.”
City Magistrate Srinagar, Fozia Paul, rejected the bail plea, stating, “Taking note of all the facts and the high magnitude of the case and the fact that the investigation in the matter is at its initial stage, I opine that if, at all, the accused is released on bail at this stage, the same would frustrate the investigation as well as shake the confidence of the general public in the judicial system.”
The court held that the accused person was not entitled to the concession of bail at this stage and rejected the plea. The fake orders related to the Health and Medical Education Department had been created and uploaded on the website.
The court described the situation as “a scam wherein the official website of the Health and Medical Education Department has been cloned by the accused along with other persons who are still absconding, thereby issuing fake appointment orders to innocent people who have become victims of this fraud, is a matter of serious concern.”
The court also noted that “it is a techno crime punishable under section 66 of the IT Act, which is a socio-economic offence quite rampant and pervasive social wrongdoing.” While emphasizing that it is the most consequential threat to a nation’s economy and law, the court stated, “In the instant matter, the act of the accused person in connivance with other persons seems to be a well-planned and cultivated act, which hampers the well-being of a society since such crimes have the effect of alluring innocent people who fall victims into the hands of such fraudsters on the pretext of employment.”
According to the prosecution, Sajad Hussain Zargar was arrested in connection with case (FIR No. 16/2023) of police Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar for offences under section 66-D of IT Act, 34, 120-B, 468 of IPC.
The police investigation revealed that the accused created a clone or fake commercial website with the URL https://Jk-gov.com in the name of the Health and Medical Education Department. The official website data was cloned, and fake orders referencing J&K’s Health and Medical Education Department were created and uploaded on the website.
The prosecution highlighted that there was apprehension that the data and the fake orders uploaded might be misused by unscrupulous elements to the detriment of public interest. The investigation uncovered that 10 unemployed and educated individuals were allured and made to pay money for fake government jobs. The accused intended to extort significant amounts from the victims after providing them with fake appointment orders. While some accused had been arrested, other suspect persons were absconding and yet to be arrested.
