Jammu: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch, Jammu, has filed chargesheets in two separate fraud cases after completing investigations, officials said on Saturday.
In the first case, the EOW filed a chargesheet in connection with an alleged investment fraud involving M/s Gold Sukh Trade India Ltd., Jaipur, whose promoters and representatives are accused of inducing investors to deposit money by promising high returns and subsequently misappropriating the investments.
The case pertains to FIR No. 306/2011 registered under Sections 420, 406 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) at Police Station Gandhi Nagar on a complaint by Ashish Sharma, who alleged that he was induced to invest ₹1.20 lakh on false assurances of high returns. The case was later transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
According to the Crime Branch, the investigation revealed that several investors were allegedly persuaded to invest around ₹30.29 lakh in the company’s schemes. The agency also alleged that the company, though incorporated in Rajasthan, was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the Registrar of Companies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Based on oral, documentary and bank records, the chargesheet has been filed before the Court of the 13th Special Mobile Magistrate, Jammu, against Manvendra Partap Singh Chouhan, Bablu Sharma, Mahendra Kumar Nirwan, Neeraj Kant Sharma and Vinod Kundal.
In the second case, the EOW filed a chargesheet in an alleged case of fraudulent procurement of Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) using forged revenue records.
The case relates to FIR No. 52/2016 registered under Sections 465, 467, 468 and 120-B RPC read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act on a complaint by Surat Singh. The complainant alleged that the accused, in conspiracy with revenue officials, fraudulently obtained PRCs to purchase land and secure government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Crime Branch, the investigation found that four accused, in alleged connivance with the then Patwari Rashpal Singh, procured PRCs using forged Nakal Shajra Nasab and Nakal Jamabandi. The agency said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed that the questioned revenue documents had been prepared by the then Patwari and did not match official revenue records.
The chargesheet in the case has been filed before the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge (Anti-Corruption), Jammu, for judicial determination.
The Crime Branch advised the public to remain vigilant against economic frauds and report such cases to the Economic Offences Wing.