Key alleged conspirator among fresh arrests; probe underway to identify other links
Budgam, Oct 09: Budgam Police on Friday said they 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, in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the newly arrested accused have been identified 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 has emerged as a key alleged conspirator during the investigation, while questioning of the three accused is underway to ascertain their individual roles and identify other persons linked to the network.
Earlier, police had arrested Jehangir Ahmad Dar and Firdous Ahmad Bhat in connection with the case.
The alleged syndicate is accused of cheating people by promising government jobs, admissions to educational institutions outside Jammu and Kashmir and lucrative business opportunities through fictitious business entities.
According to police, the accused allegedly gained the confidence of victims by claiming connections with senior government officials and political figures, thereby inducing them to pay substantial amounts of money.
Investigators are now examining financial transactions linked to the alleged fraud and tracing other suspected associates to establish the full extent of the network’s activities, the spokesperson said, adding that further arrests and recoveries are likely as the investigation progresses.
