EOW Kashmir files chargesheet, books four in fake cooking oil company fraud

Srinagar, Jul 30: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch on Thursday said it has filed a chargesheet against four persons for allegedly cheating a Srinagar resident of Rs 15 lakh by posing as representatives of a fake cooking oil company and promising to supply mustard oil.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 77/2022 under Sections 420 and 120-B IPC before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against four accused in the cheating case.
He said the accused are Mohd Amin Bhat, son of Mohd Afzal Bhat, a resident of Khanyar, Srinagar; Khalid Hussain Khan, son of Ghulam Hassan Khan, a resident of Gasiyar Hawal, Srinagar; Anil Kumar Maheshwari, son of Ganpat Lal, a resident of A-38, Satiya Nagar, Ward No. 09, Jhotwara, Jaipur, Rajasthan; and Shashank Kumar, son of Surinder Singh, a resident of B-50, Uddai City, Pallapurram-2, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
The spokesperson said the case originated from a complaint alleging that Mohammad Amin Bhat of Khanyar, Srinagar, along with Khalid Hussain Khan, Area Sales Manager and Anil Kumar Maheshwari, Regional Sales Manager of M/s Assured Agro Food Industries, induced the complainant to invest Rs 15 lakh as a security deposit for the supply of cooking oil.
He said the accused represented that the company manufactured cooking oil and assured delivery of the stock within a week. However, no stock was supplied. Accordingly, an investigation was initiated, during which it was established that the accused, acting in conspiracy, cheated the complainant on the pretext of supplying mustard oil.
“Enquiries with the Registrar of Companies, Rajasthan, revealed that no company by the name of M/s Assured Agro Food Industries was registered. Investigation further disclosed the involvement of the company’s purported owner, Shashank Kumar of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. On completion of the investigation, the chargesheet was presented before the competent court for judicial proceedings,” the statement said.
The spokesperson said the Crime Branch has advised the public to remain vigilant against such economic frauds and report any suspicious activities to the SSP, EOW Kashmir. Victims may also lodge complaints through email at [email protected]. (KNO)