Jammu, Dec 29:
The Special Crime Wing (SCW) of the Crime Branch Jammu has formally filed a charge-sheet against a woman for allegedly using a fraudulent degree to secure a government engagement under the Rehbar-e-Khel scheme. The accused, identified as Uttama Devi, resident of Village Shingani, Tehsil Gandoh Bhalessa (District Doda), is accused of cheating the government and depriving a legitimate candidate of a job opportunity.
The case (FIR No. 06/2024) was registered following a written complaint alleging that Uttama Devi had submitted a fake Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.E) degree. The document was purportedly issued by Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur (UP).
However, preliminary verifications led by SSP SCW Jammu, Sh. Sanjay Parihar (JKPS), revealed a startling fact: the university in question did not even offer the specific course mentioned in her degree.
To confirm the forgery, a dedicated investigation team, led by DySP Javaid Iqbal Tabassum, made multiple efforts to verify the document’s authenticity. This included: Official correspondence with the Kanpur-based university. Physical visits by Crime Branch officials to the university campus in Uttar Pradesh. Final confirmation from the university registrar that the degree was not genuine.
The investigation found that Uttama Devi used this fake qualification to secure her engagement as a ‘Rehbar-e-Khel’ teacher. She remained in the position from March 2019 to February 2023, during which she drew a regular monthly honorarium from the government exchequer.
Her fraudulent appointment had a dual impact: A wrongful drain on the Government exchequer through honorariums paid to an unqualified person. The complainant, who was placed at Serial No. 1 in the waiting list, was deprived of the engagement for four years due to the accused’s deception.
Based on documentary evidence and witness statements, the Special Crime Wing has invoked the following sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC): Section 420 ( Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.), Section 467 ( Forgery of valuable security.), Section 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating.), Section 471 (Using as genuine a forged document.)
The charge-sheet has been produced before the Hon’ble Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Doda, for judicial determination.
