CREATION OF FAKE GOVT WEBSITE | Court declines bail to accused, terms matter serious

Srinagar, Nov 30: A court here Thursday dismissed bail plea of one of the persons who allegedly created a fake website in the name of Health and Medical Education Department and “uploaded fake orders to lure unemployed youth”.

City Magistrate Srinagar, Fozia Paul while rejecting bail plea on behalf of the accused, Sajad Hussain Zargar of Bemina said: “Taking note of all the facts and high magnitude of the case and the fact that the investigation in the matter is at its initial stage, I opine, that if at all the accused is released on bail at this stage the same would frustrate the investigation as well as shake the confidence of general public in the judicial system”.

The court held that the accused person at this stage was not entitled to the concession of bail and rejected the plea.
The Court noted that the fake orders referring to the Health and Medical Education Department had been created and uploaded on the website, saying “this being a scam wherein official website of Health and
Medical Education Department has been cloned by the accused along with other persons who are still absconding and thereby issuing fake appointment orders to innocent people who have become victims of this
fraud, is a matter of serious concern.”

The Court also observed that “it is a techno crime punishable under section 66 of IT Act which is a social economic offence quite rampant and pervasive social wrong doing”.
While the court underscored that undoubtedly, it is the most consequential threat to a nation’s economy at large and law in particular, it said. “In the instant matter, the act of the accused person in connivance with other persons seems to be a well planned and cultivated act, which hampers the well being of a society since such crimes have the effect of alluring innocent people who fall victims into the hands of such fraudsters on the pretext of employment.”

According to prosecution, Sajad Hussain Zargar was arrested in connection with case (FIR No. 16/2023) of police Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar for offences u/s 66-D of IT Act, 34, 120-B, 468 of
IPC.

The Police Station, the prosecution said, received a written communication from Deputy Secretary to the Government Health & Medical Education Department for registration of FIR for creation of a clone or fake commercial website with URL https://Jk-gov.com in the name of Health and Medical Education Department by some unknown persons.
It said: “The data/interface actually borne on the official website of the Health and Medical Education Department under the URL://hime.jk.gov.in has also been cloned”. Besides fake orders referencing to J&K’s

Health and Medical Education Department of J&K were created and uploaded on the website.
The prosecution said, as such, there was every apprehension that the data and the fake orders, so uploaded may be misused by the unscrupulous elements to the detriment of public interest at large.

Police investigation revealed 10 such unemployed and educated persons (victims) were allured by the accused persons and were made to pay money in lieu of fake government jobs.
“Consequently, they received some money as advance payments and were intending to extort huge amounts from the victims, after providing them fake appointment orders,” the prosecution said. Accordingly the
suspected persons were directed to report Cyber Police Station and consequently one of them Sajad Ahmad Zargar of D Hamdaniya Colony Srinagar upon questioning admitted to his crime and was accordingly, arrested.

The prosecution said while some accused had been arrested, other suspect persons, it said, were absconding and yet to be arrested.