Former J&K Cooperative MD convicted for forging date of birth to extend service

Srinagar, Nov 3: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir has secured a major conviction against Mohammad Shafi Banday, former Managing Director of J&K Cooperative Central Land Development Limited, for fraudulently altering his date of birth to unlawfully extend his government service tenure.

According to officials, the case stemmed from a complaint alleging that Banday had forged his date of birth, recording it as 01.09.1939 instead of his actual year of birth, 1934, by producing a fake birth certificate.

A detailed probe launched by the Crime Branch Kashmir verified the manipulation and established that Banday’s actual date of birth was 26.06.1932. Investigators found that the accused had illegally overstayed in service for over seven years, resulting in wrongful financial gains and losses to the state exchequer.

Following the investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the Court of the City Judge, Srinagar.

After a full trial, the court found the accused guilty under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using forged documents as genuine) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Banday was sentenced to two years of simple imprisonment on each count and fined ₹5,000 per offence. The court directed that all sentences shall run concurrently.

The EOW hailed the verdict as a strong message against corruption and manipulation in public service.

“This conviction underscores our unwavering commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance,” an EOW spokesperson said.

The agency reaffirmed that it remains steadfast in pursuing cases that undermine public trust and cause losses to the government exchequer.