Flouting all rules and regulations, a United Kingdom national allegedly managed to secure a job as an Assistant Professor at the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Kashmir, through fraudulent means.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch, Jammu and Kashmir, has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 76/2022 under Sections 199 and 420 of the RPC before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against Afshan Shabir of Zadibal for allegedly securing a government job by concealing her foreign citizenship.
According to the chargesheet, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir produced the chargesheet before the Hon'ble Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against Afshan Shabir, wife of Syed Akeel Ahmad and resident of Shibath, Zadibal.
The case pertains to allegations that Afshan Shabir, who was appointed as Assistant Professor at SKIMS, Soura, in 2019, is a United Kingdom national and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, thereby rendering her ineligible for appointment to a government post.
The investigation revealed that the accused applied for the post pursuant to Advertisement Notice No. 04 of 2015 as an in-service candidate and submitted documents, including a State Subject Certificate, declaring herself to be an Indian citizen and a permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir. On the basis of these declarations, she was selected and appointed.
During the course of the investigation, official records, including her service book, personal file, application form, and the minutes of the selection committee, were seized and examined. It emerged that the accused had acquired British citizenship prior to entering government service and allegedly concealed this fact while applying for and continuing in service. The accused admitted to holding a British passport and an OCI card.
The investigation established that by misrepresenting her citizenship status, the accused fraudulently secured a public post, causing wrongful gain to herself and corresponding loss to the government. Her services were terminated vide Government Order No. 23-SKIMS of 2022 dated 20.08.2022, and upon completion of the investigation, the chargesheet was presented before the competent court for judicial adjudication.
