The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch in Jammu and Kashmir conducted searches at three locations in Srinagar and Budgam on Thursday in connection with a large-scale fraud allegedly perpetrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The action was taken as part of an investigation into FIR No. 11/2026, registered at the EOW police station in Srinagar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act.
According to an agency spokesperson, the case was initiated following a complaint filed by M/S Sanjay Trading Company, based in Najafgarh, New Delhi. The firm’s proprietor, Sanjay Kumar Sahu, alleged that two individuals from Srinagar duped his company on the pretext of arranging medical supplies during the health crisis.
The accused have been identified as Emaad Muzaffar Makhdoomi, journalist by profession and also known as ‘Imran Shah’, a resident of Peerbagh, and Vikar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sanat Nagar.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused employed fraudulent methods to obtain large sums of money. Officials stated that the illicit funds included payments allegedly drawn from the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Anantnag. The accused also reportedly attempted to siphon off crores of rupees from the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar.
The spokesperson added that the suspects impersonated government officials, posing as delegates and officers on special duty for supplies. To gain the trust of the complainant firm, they allegedly issued fake allotment orders in the name of various government departments and institutions.
Further modus operandi uncovered by the probe includes the creation of fake email accounts in the name of the victim firm and the opening of fraudulent bank accounts to divert funds.
Officials confirmed that the searches conducted on Thursday were aimed at gathering additional evidence, including digital data and financial records. The investigation remains ongoing.
