SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of the Crime Branch JK has registered a formal case against two residents of Srinagar over an alleged large-scale fraud in the procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
According to a statement, the case followed a written complaint alleging that the accused, from Peerbagh and Sanat Nagar, posed as delegates of the JK Ministry and OSD Supplies. They allegedly deceived government departments and institutions into transferring payments for medical goods into bank accounts fraudulently opened in the names of legitimate suppliers, while also using fabricated email identities to impersonate the original vendors.
Preliminary verification indicates that Rs 27 lakh was dishonestly obtained from a government office and that an additional Rs 2.24 crore was targeted for fraudulent withdrawal from a government medical institution.
On the basis of prima facie evidence, offences relating to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, criminal conspiracy and cyber fraud have been established under relevant provisions of the IPC read with the IT Act. Authorities said cognisance has been taken and further investigation is under way.
