CBK files chargesheet against former SKIMS assistant professor over citizenship fraud

SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K on Thursday said it has filed a chargesheet against Afshan Shabir, wife of Syed Akeel Ahmad, a resident of Shibath Zadibal, a former assistant professor at SKIMS Soura over alleged citizenship fraud.

The chargesheet has been filed in FIR No. 76/2022 under Sections 199 and 420 RPC before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar.

EOW said the case pertains to allegations that Afshan Shabir, who was appointed as Assistant Professor in 2019, is a United Kingdom national and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder, making her ineligible for appointment to a government post.

The investigation revealed that the accused had applied for the post under Advertisement Notice No. 04 of 2015 as an in-service candidate and submitted documents, including a State Subject Certificate, declaring herself an Indian citizen and permanent resident of J&K. On the basis of these declarations, she was selected and appointed.

During the probe, officials seized and examined her service book, personal file, application form and selection committee minutes. It surfaced that she had acquired British citizenship prior to joining government service and allegedly concealed this fact while applying for and continuing in service. The accused also admitted to holding a British passport and an OCI card.

EOW said the investigation established that by misrepresenting her citizenship status, the accused fraudulently secured a public post, causing wrongful gain to herself and corresponding loss to the government.

Her services were terminated vide Government Order No. 23-SKIMS of 2022 dated August 20, 2022. Upon completion of the investigation, the chargesheet was produced before the competent court for judicial adjudication, EOW added. — (KIMS)