Srinagar, Oct 06: Crime Branch of police has booked a “fraudster” who it said demanded money from the government officials while posing as a minister for R&B and Revenue departments.
“Crime Branch lodged a case (FIR no. 46/2018) under section 419, 420 RPC, 66D Information Technology Act against one fraudster Firdous Ahmad Ahanger, who has used his SIM card and introduced himself as Minister for R&B and Minister for Revenue department,” said a spokesman in a statement today.
He said Crime Branch Kashmir received information through “reliable source” that cell number 7880919630 was being used by some fraudster to demand money from engineers of PWD in the name of ministers and bureaucrats.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the cell phone no. 7880919630 is being used by one Firdous Ahmad Ahanger, son of Abdul Rehman Ahanger, resident of Nundresh Colony Bemina, Srinagar, “who has used said SIM card mostly during late night hours with cell No’s. 9419050417, 9906508934, 9419034755 and 94190749502 which belong to Superintending Engineer PMGSY Sgr, Executive Engineer R&B Division Kupwara, Tehsildar Uri and Chief Education Officer Ganderbal respectively,” spokesman said.
“The said suspect introduced himself as Minister for R&B and Minster for Revenue luring them under the pretext of transfer proposal, so as to extract money from those public servants,” he said.
“The enquiry established that accused Firdous Ahmad Ahanger has used cell No. 7880919630 which is otherwise subscribed in the name of his sister,” spokesman informed.
He said it was also established that the suspect Firdous Ahmad Ahanger by using a spoof call application, which displayed cell number of concerned minister on the cell phone of the receiver of such calls and SMS, “impersonated himself as minister of concerned department in order to cheat them and extract money from them.”
Spokesman said involvement of Firdous Ahmad had also surfaced in similar frauds earlier as well. Crime Branch has requested people to remain cautious to such fraudsters.
