Jammu Kashmir: Former MD Convicted for Forging Birth Records to Extend Service Tenure

The Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir) has secured a conviction in a forgery case against Mohammad Shafi Banday, former Managing Director of the Jammu Kashmir Cooperative Central Land Development Limited, who was found guilty of tampering with his date of birth to illegally extend his tenure in government service. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has secured the conviction of Mohammad Shafi Banday, former Managing Director of JK Cooperative Central Land Development Limited, for fraudulently manipulating his date of birth to unlawfully extend his service tenure.

The case originated from a complaint alleging that the accused had deliberately recorded his date of birth as 01.09.1939 instead of his actual year of birth, 1934, by producing a fake certificate, statement reads. A probe was initiated by the Crime Branch Kashmir, during which verification confirmed the manipulation and further established that his actual date of birth was 26.06.1932. Subsequently, a formal case was registered at Crime Branch Kashmir (now Economic Offences Wing), it reads. During the course of investigation, the allegations were substantiated, revealing that the accused had overstayed in service for more than seven years, thereby causing wrongful gain to himself and corresponding loss to the State exchequer. Accordingly, a chargesheet was filed before the Hon’ble Court for judicial determination, it reads., After a full trial, the Hon’ble Court of City Judge, Srinagar found the accused guilty under Sections 420, 468, and 471 RPC, sentencing him to two years of simple imprisonment on each count and a fine of ₹5,000 per offence. All sentences shall run concurrently, it reads. This conviction underscores the EOW’s unwavering commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service, reads the statement.