Ex-Cooperative MD sentenced for manipulating birth records

Srinagar, Nov 4: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has secured the conviction of Mohammad Shafi Banday, former Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Central Land Development Bank Limited, for fraudulently manipulating his date of birth to unlawfully prolong his service tenure.

The conviction follows a detailed investigation into allegations that Banday had tampered with his official records by submitting a forged birth certificate to record his date of birth as September 1, 1939, instead of his actual year of birth. The probe later established that his genuine date of birth was June 26, 1932, revealing that he had overstayed in service for more than seven years beyond the permissible retirement age.

Officials said that the case originated from a written complaint accusing Banday of falsifying his personal records to remain in office. The Economic Offences Wing verified the claim through official documents and school records, which confirmed the manipulation. A formal case was subsequently registered at the Crime Branch Kashmir (now EOW).

During the investigation, the allegations were fully substantiated. The inquiry revealed that Banday had not only forged documents to alter his date of birth but had also drawn salary and benefits during the extended period, causing wrongful gain to himself and a corresponding loss to the state exchequer.

After a full trial, the Court of the City Judge, Srinagar, found the accused guilty under Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) — pertaining to cheating, forgery, and use of forged documents. The court sentenced him to two years of simple imprisonment on each count and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 per offence. The court ordered that all sentences shall run concurrently.

In a statement, the Economic Offences Wing described the judgment as a “significant step toward ensuring integrity and accountability in public service.” The agency said the conviction demonstrates its resolve to act firmly against financial and administrative misconduct, especially cases involving manipulation of official records.

“This conviction reflects the EOW’s ongoing commitment to upholding transparency and rule of law within government institutions,” the statement added.