BUDGAM: Budgam Police have arrested three more persons in connection with an alleged fake job and financial fraud syndicate, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.
A police spokesperson identified the newly arrested accused as Zahoor Ahmad Bhat of Watpora, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat of Kaloosa and Saleem Ali Bhat of Plan, all in Bandipora district.
Police said Zahoor Ahmad Bhat had emerged as a key alleged conspirator during the investigation. The questioning of the three accused is underway to ascertain their individual roles and identify other persons allegedly linked to the network.
Earlier, police had arrested Jehangir Ahmad Dar and Firdous Ahmad Bhat in the case.
According to police, the alleged syndicate cheated people by promising government jobs, admissions to educational institutions outside Jammu and Kashmir and lucrative business opportunities through fictitious business entities.
Investigators said the accused allegedly gained victims’ confidence by claiming links with senior government officials and political figures before inducing them to pay substantial amounts of money.
Police are examining financial transactions linked to the alleged fraud and tracing other suspected associates to establish the extent of the network’s activities. Further arrests and recoveries are likely as the investigation progresses, the spokesperson said.
