Police book fraudster impersonating as high-ranking official in Ganderbal

Srinagar, Sep 12: Police in Ganderbal have booked a notorious fraudster for impersonating as an influential and high-ranking government officer. He has been identified as Illyas Hameed Bhat, son of Abdul Hameed Bhat, resident of Bakura, Ganderbal.

A police official said that a case vide FIR No. 136/2025 has been registered at Police Station Ganderbal against him. He said that investigation has revealed that the accused impersonated at different times as DySP NIA, Administrator in Kashmir University and even as a senior officer in the Enforcement Directorate.

By posing as a senior government officer, the accused lured and cheated several individuals on the pretext of providing government jobs, in return for money. He also prepared fake and forged documents, including job appointment letters and identity cards, police official said.

After getting the warrant from the court, police conducted a search today at his residence and recovered incriminating material, including forged job appointment orders and fake identity cards, he said.

It is pertinent to mention that one FIR has already been registered against him in Police Station Nishat, Srinagar, in a similar case, police official said.

Ganderbal Police appealed to the general public that if anyone has been cheated or defrauded by the said individual, they should come forward and report the matter to the police.