Srinagar, February 26, 2026 : The Economic Offences Wing (EoW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir has registered a formal case against two individuals for their alleged role in a major fraud linked to the procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the case was initiated following a written complaint accusing the duo—residents of Peerbagh and Sanat Nagar in Srinagar—of impersonating themselves as authorised delegates of the J&K Ministry and OSD Supplies during the peak of the pandemic.
Investigators said the accused allegedly adopted deceptive methods to induce government departments and medical institutions to release payments meant for genuine suppliers. These funds were reportedly diverted into bank accounts fraudulently opened in the names of original suppliers.
“The accused also created fake email IDs to impersonate legitimate suppliers, thereby misrepresenting their identity and gaining the trust of government offices,” the EoW said in a statement.
A preliminary verification conducted by the Crime Branch revealed that the accused successfully siphoned off ₹27 lakh from a government office. Further, they had allegedly planned to fraudulently withdraw an additional ₹2.24 crore from a government medical institution before the transaction was detected.
On the basis of prima facie evidence, offences under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, have been established. Cognisance of the case has been taken and a detailed investigation is currently underway to ascertain the full extent of the fraud, identify possible accomplices, and trace the money trail, officials said.
The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-era procurements and the government’s push to ensure accountability in matters involving public funds and critical healthcare supplies.
