J&K Crime Branch Files Charge Sheet Against Retired PHE Employee for ₹18.3 Lakh Migrant Relief Fraud

JAMMU, Jan 19: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir has formally produced a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department employee for allegedly orchestrating a major financial fraud.

The accused, identified as Mohd Hussain Shah, a retired official from the PHE Ganderbal Division and resident of Shopian, is accused of unlawfully pocketing ₹18,30,265 in government funds by fraudulently registering himself and his family as migrants.

The legal document was presented before the Court of the 19th Electricity Magistrate in Jammu following a comprehensive investigation into the misappropriation of public welfare resources.

The investigation revealed that Shah deliberately concealed his status as an active government servant to secure migrant registration, a benefit intended for displaced individuals without stable income.

By misrepresenting material facts, the accused continued to draw cash relief over several years, causing a significant loss to the state exchequer. The EOW established that these actions constitute offenses punishable under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

Officials emphasized that this crackdown is part of a broader commitment to safeguard public funds and ensure that government welfare schemes are not exploited by those in positions of authority.