Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police have uncovered an elaborate fraud network that preyed on hopeful job‑seekers by promising government posts, Special Police Officer (SPO) appointments, official clearances and overseas travel opportunities.
Complaint Over Fake SPO Appointment Triggers Probe
The case began when a resident filed a complaint at Beerwah police station on 17 August 2026. He alleged that he had handed over roughly Rs 3 lakh after being assured of an SPO posting. In return, he received a forged appointment and recommendation letter that appeared to be issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Verification showed that the document bore the name of the then Union Home Secretary and was addressed to the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, supposedly confirming the recruitment of ten youths from various Budgam villages as Special Police Officers.
Raid Unearths Counterfeit Government Papers
Investigators traced the operation to advocate Jahangir Ahmad Dar. A raid on his rented flat in Nanak Nagar, Jammu, yielded a trove of forged government orders, official‑looking stamps, 12 ATM cards, blank bank letterheads, identity proofs and passport‑visa paperwork.
A diary found at the scene appears to record financial movements. Police are analysing its entries to map the money trail and identify additional conspirators.
Victims Lured With Promises of Jobs and Benefits
Preliminary findings suggest the scheme may have been active since 2019. Authorities estimate the total value of the fraud to be around Rs 2 crore, though the investigation is still underway.
Several complaints cite payments of Rs 2.3 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 27 lakh to the fraudsters. The perpetrators allegedly enticed victims by offering government employment, SPO recruitment, scheme approvals, subsidies and overseas travel.
The modus operandi started with a modest upfront fee. Once trust was gained, the scammers demanded increasingly larger sums, often targeting economically vulnerable groups such as daily‑wage laborers.
WhatsApp ‘View Once’ Leveraged for Fake Documents
Police discovered that many forged documents were transmitted via WhatsApp’s ‘View Once’ feature, which erases media after a single view. Investigators are probing whether this method was chosen to make the counterfeit files harder to retain or trace.
Passport and Visa Files Suggest an International Angle
The seizure of passport‑ and visa‑related material adds another layer to the case. Authorities are now examining whether the network had contacts abroad or if promises of foreign admission and travel were part of the same deceptive operation.
Investigators are scrutinising the seized documents, financial records and other evidence to reconstruct the full structure of the alleged racket.
Potential for Additional Arrests
Police believe the two men already in custody – advocate Jahangir Ahmad Dar and JKPF chairman Firdous Nabi – could be linked to a wider conspiracy. Their interrogations aim to uncover more participants, the total amount collected, the number of victims and the extent of fabricated government documentation used.
Officials caution that further arrests are likely as deeper details of the network emerge.
