Srinagar, Badgam raided for fake COVID-19 medical supplies orders

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of J&K police on Thursday raided three locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts in connection with alleged fraud involving two men for allegedly issuing fake medical purchase orders to embezzle government funds amid the Covid-19 pandemic.Sanjay Kumar Sahu, owner of Delhi-based M/s Sanjay Trading Company, filed a written complaint with the police alleging that Emad Muzafar Makdoomi alias Imran Shah and Vikar Ahmad Bhat from Srinagar “dishonestly induced the company on the pretext of procuring medical supplies during Covid-19.”The defendants impersonated government officials and issued false appropriation orders to various departments and agencies. They created fake email IDs of the complaining companies and opened fraudulent bank accounts in their names to transfer payments.Police said the search was to collect evidence, including digital records and financial documents. The crime branch said preliminary investigation found that the accused used deception to obtain large sums of money, including from the office of the deputy commissioner, Anantnag, and tried to embezzle crores of rupees from the Government Medical College, Srinagar.