SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing – Crime Branch Jammu has presented a 382-page charge sheet in the court against two accused Women Police S.G constables, identified as Nirmal Kour Saini, wife of Mohinder Singh R/o Kol Kalan Bishna, Jammu, and Arti Sharma, wife of Sunil Sharma R/o Village Ghara Sotra Hira Nagar.
The charges are filed under FIR No. 23/2014 U/S 420, 406, 120-B RPC P/S EOW, Crime Branch, Jammu, for the alleged involvement in a chit fund case amounting to one crore eighty-seven lakh sixty-four thousand rupees.
The case originated from a report forwarded by Commandant IRP 15th Bn. Jammu to Crime Branch, following complaints by Women Constables of IRP 15th Battalion. The complainants alleged that W/SgCt.Nirmal Kour of IRP 15th Battalion had fraudulently taken Rs 1 Lakh each from them, promising a monthly interest of Rs 5000 on the invested money. However, neither the promised interest nor the principal amount was repaid, leading to accusations of cheating and misappropriation.
During the subsequent discreet enquiry, it was discovered that W/Sgct. Nirmal Kour, in collaboration with her husband Mohinder Singh Saini (posted in JKAP 14th Bn), had collected a substantial amount of cash and gold not only from the complainants but also from other women officials of the 15th Bn. and the security wing.
The funds were acquired under false pretences, with promises of high-interest rates and gold loan facilities. However, the collected cash was deposited with a finance company, and the gold was placed with Manappuraam Bank in Satwari, Karan Market Jammu, for personal use. The misappropriated amount totalled Rs 1.50 Crores, along with approximately 300 grams of gold.
A formal case was registered in Crime Branch Jammu, and further investigation revealed that the accused had ventured into the business of electronic gadgets and furniture items at the Battalion headquarters to gain monetary benefits and win the confidence of unsuspecting investors.
The charges under U/S 420, 404, 120-B RPC P/S Crime Branch, Jammu were established against both accused, leading to the production of a preliminary charge sheet. The investigation into the case FIR continues.(KNS)
