Srinagar, July 13, KNT: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir, of the Crime Branch has arrested a wanted fraudster facing as many as 11 criminal cases involving alleged cheating, forgery and employment-related fraud across the Valley, ending his prolonged evasion from the law.

The accused, Abdul Majeed Mir, son of Abdul Rahim Mir, a resident of Lashtiyal, Kalaroos in Kupwara district, was apprehended in execution of a long-pending arrest warrant issued by the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, in connection with FIR No. 17/2015 registered at the then Crime Branch Kashmir under offences relating to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.

Investigators said a charge sheet in the case had already been filed before the competent court after completion of the investigation, while the accused had remained at large.

According to the Crime Branch, Abdul Majeed Mir is allegedly involved in a series of employment fraud cases registered at different police stations across Kashmir. Besides the 2015 Crime Branch case, he faces ten other FIRs registered between 2018 and 2026 at the Economic Offences Wing, Kupwara, Maisuma, Pantha Chowk and Lal Bazar police stations. Of these, four cases are under investigation, while charge sheets have already been filed in the remaining seven.

Following his arrest, the accused was produced before the competent court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He has subsequently been lodged in the Central Jail, Srinagar.

The Crime Branch said the arrest forms part of its sustained crackdown on organised financial fraud and employment scams operating in the Valley.

Appealing to the public to remain vigilant, the Economic Offences Wing advised citizens not to fall prey to false promises of government jobs, forged appointment orders or fake recruitment offers. It urged people to immediately report such fraudulent activities to the nearest police station or the Crime Branch so that timely legal action can be initiated. [KNT]