Srinagar Police arrest fraudster posing as govt official

Srinagar, Jan 07: Police in Srinagar have arrested a fraudster who falsely claimed to be a government officer in order to defraud an individual of a substantial sum of money, promising to release a drug peddler detained under drug-related crime, officials said today.

"On 06/01/2025, a complaint was filed by Ms. Safiya Riyaz wife of Riyaz Ahmad Channa accusing Sadiq Hassan Chaloo, a resident of Shaheedgunj, of impersonating a government officer and defrauding her of ₹2 lakh," said a police spokesman, in a statement.

"The accused person falsely claimed influence to facilitate the release of her husband, who had been arrested on 19/11/2024 by Police Station Rajbagh in a narcotics case. After she discovered the deception and demanded the money back, the accused person returned only a partial amount and denied the rest."

In this connection, case under Sections 318(4), 319 and 351(2) of the BNS Act has been registered and the fraudster has been arrested. The investigation is ongoing, said the spokesman.

It is pertinent to mention here that the husband of the applicant, Riyaz Ahmad Channa had been booked under PIT NDPS Act and is presently lodged in Sub Jail Baderwah.