SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir on Saturday carried out multiple searches in District Anantnag and arrested Shahid Rehman Bhat, a resident of Shangus, Nowgam, for allegedly defrauding farmers of crores of rupees under the pretext of supplying high-density apple Plants.
The arrest was made in connection with FIR No. 16/2025, registered under Section 318 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. The accused, proprietor of M/s AR Trading Agri Services Pvt. Ltd, is alleged to have collected large sums of money from several individuals after promising the supply of premium apple saplings. However, he failed to deliver the promised plants and did not return the money, instead going into hiding.
According to the Crime Branch, multiple written complaints were received from aggrieved individuals. Bank transaction records provided by the complainants indicate that the accused misappropriated crores of rupees from unsuspecting farmers.
A bail application filed by the accused was recently rejected by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Anantnag, following strong objections and prima facie prosecutable evidence presented by the investigating agency.
