Srinagar, Jan 06: The Jammu and Kashmir Police Crime Branch Saturday apprehended two brothers after the gap of four years, Jatin alias “Raja” and Jatinder alias “Poot,” from Punjab, for their alleged involvement in embezzling over Rs 1.6 crore from a government department in Jammu.
A spokesperson from the Jammu Crime Branch, the accused duo operated an inter-state bookie business, orchestrating the embezzlement of funds collected by a cashier of the Jal Shakti department. The embezzlement, totaling Rs 1.64 crore, was reported in 2020, leading to the initiation of a case against the accused, he said.
Providing details, the spokesperson stated that a specialized team from the Economic Offences Wing – Crime Branch Jammu apprehended the two fugitives, residents of Lambi Galli, Mukerian, Punjab. The arrest was made in connection with Case FIR No. 02/2020 under Sections 409, 411, 414, 420, 447-A, 34/IPC, read with Section 13(2) P.C. Act, at Police Station Crime Branch Jammu.
“The accused duo was implicated in operating an inter-state bookie business and unlawfully diverting Rs. 1.64 Crore, revenue collected by a Cashier (who is one of the accused) of the Jalshakti Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government,” he said.
Both individuals were among the four co-accused in the aforementioned case FIR. The remaining two accused, Nikhil Gandral and Inderpal Singh, had already faced legal consequences as the Crime Branch Jammu presented a charge-sheet against them in court. The investigation conducted by the Crime Branch Jammu substantiated the charges against them.
The spokesperson said that the absconding sibling duo had been on the run to evade arrest continuously. However, the relentless efforts of the Economic Offences Wing – Crime Branch Jammu have culminated in their apprehension, ensuring that justice is served in this case.
“The embezzlement unfolded as a result of a complaint about the misappropriation of funds, specifically the revenue collected as water charges in the city division. The accused brothers allegedly siphoned off the funds that were originally meant for remittance into the government treasury,” he said.
Earlier in March 2020, the police had arrested Nikhil Gandral, the then cashier at the Jal Shakti office in Jammu, along with Inderpal Singh. “Both were subsequently charged in connection with the embezzlement case. Investigations revealed that the cashier, Nikhil Gandral, had diverted Rs 1.64 crore, asserting that he had handed the money to bookie Jatin with the expectation of receiving double the amount in return,” the spokesman said.
He highlighted that the arrest of Jatin alias “Raja” and Jatinder alias “Poot” marks a significant breakthrough in dismantling the alleged inter-state bookie racket and addressing the financial misconduct within the government department. The Jammu and Kashmir Police Crime Branch continues its efforts to ensure justice and uphold the integrity of public funds, the spokesperson added.
