Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir has arrested a man who had allegedly remained absconding for several years in connection with five cases involving cheating, forgery and alleged land-related fraud, officials said.
The accused, identified as Soom Nath Koul, son of Kalash Nath Koul, a resident of 22-Lotus Tower, Bangalore North, Karnataka, and presently residing at Janipur, Jammu, was arrested in compliance with orders of the Sub-Judge, Srinagar, the EOW said.
According to the agency, a special team was constituted to execute the court orders and trace the accused. Following sustained efforts and due procedure, the team succeeded in locating and arresting him. The agency said Hue and Cry notices had also been issued and published periodically to trace him.
The EOW alleged that Koul had used different identities, including Soom Nath Koul, Brij Nath Bhat, Mohan Lal Dhar and Hadi Nath Dhar, while allegedly carrying out land transactions.
The five cases registered against him relate to allegations of cheating, forgery and fraud involving migrant properties, allegedly through purportedly forged Powers of Attorney and agreements to sell. In one of the cases, a chargesheet was filed against him in absentia under Section 512 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The agency alleged that Koul induced people to purchase land by representing himself under different identities and cheated them in connection with property transactions. The alleged fraud involved crores of rupees and was reportedly carried out in connivance with other accused persons.
The EOW said Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Dar, son of Abdul Khaliq Dar and a resident of Jawalapora, Samson, Budgam, was arrested last week in connection with one of the cases.
Dar’s arrest was linked to an alleged Rs 93 lakh land and property fraud case, in which the EOW alleged that he acted in connivance with Koul in offering the purported sale of migrant land and other property through forged agreements. The case was registered as FIR No. 17/2026 at Police Station EOW Kashmir under Sections 318(4), 338, 340 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The EOW has alleged that the accused persons represented themselves as owners or authorised attorney holders of migrant properties and induced people to part with substantial amounts of money. Investigators have also examined financial transactions allegedly connected with the property deals.
The arrest of Koul, also known by the aliases Brij Nath Bhat, Hadi Nath Dhar and Mohan Lal Dhar, is part of the ongoing investigation into the five cases.
Further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged financial fraud, identify the land transactions involved, trace the money trail and ascertain the role of other persons allegedly connected with the cases.
The allegations against the accused are subject to investigation and judicial proceedings, and guilt can be established only by a competent court.
The EOW has also urged members of the public to remain vigilant against economic and property-related fraud and report suspected cases to the SSP, EOW Srinagar, Crime Branch J&K.
