J&K Police Arrest Fraudster in Shopian for Duping Man of ₹5.4 Lakh Under False Pretexts
SHOPIAN, January 05, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have apprehended a conman for allegedly defrauding a citizen of a substantial sum of money by falsely promising to secure the release of a relative from legal custody.
The arrest highlights a growing crackdown on individuals who exploit vulnerable families by claiming influence within government and law enforcement circles.The investigation began on January 4, 2026, when Police Station Shopian received a formal complaint via WhatsApp from Asif Ahmad Parrah, a resident of Humhuna, Zainapora.
According to the complainant, the accused, identified as Sajad Ahmad Bhat, son of Gh Hassan Bhat and a resident of Mundoora, Tral, posed as a government employee. Bhat allegedly claimed he possessed the necessary influence to arrange the release of the complainant’s brother, Umer Maqbool, who was lawfully detained in connection with a narcotics case (FIR No. 108/2025) at Police Station Zainapora.
Under this false assurance, the fraudster managed to extract ₹5,40,000 from the family.In response to the digital complaint, the Shopian Police registered E.FIR No. 03/2026 under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Following a swift operation, the police took the accused into custody. During the preliminary stages of the investigation, authorities successfully recovered ₹1.50 lakh of the cheated money.
Efforts are currently intensified to recover the remaining balance and to determine if the accused has been involved in similar fraudulent activities elsewhere.The J&K Police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against such predators.
Officials emphasized that no individual has the authority to bypass legal procedures through “influence” and warned the public to stay away from anyone promising illegal favors in exchange for money.
The police reiterated that any suspicious activity or fraudulent offers should be immediately reported to the nearest police station to ensure swift legal action.