The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Sub-Judge, Baramulla, in connection with an alleged MBBS admission fraud involving ₹13 lakh.

Officials said the chargesheet has been filed against the accused Aquib Javeed, son of Mohammad Ayoub, and Mohammad Ahtesham Ahmad, son of Mohammad Ayoub, both inhabitants of Ring Road, Adarsh Nagar, Gulbarga, District Kalaburagi in Karnataka.

The case originated from a written complaint submitted by a victim who alleged that he was approached by Dr Shamsu-Din, working at Al-Amin Medical College in Bijapur, Karnataka. The complainant was allegedly assured that an MBBS admission for his son would be arranged through the accused Aquib Javeed. Acting on this assurance, the complainant paid an amount of ₹13 lakh.

However, police said that neither was the complainant’s ward provided admission in any medical college nor was the money returned, prompting him to approach the authorities.

Following the receipt of the complaint, a detailed investigation was initiated by the Police Station Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch Kashmir. During the investigation, it was established that Aquib Javeed, in criminal conspiracy with his brother Mohammad Ahtesham Ahmad, had cheated the complainant by falsely promising admission to his son in KBN Medical College, Bijapur.

Investigating officers stated that sufficient evidence surfaced during the probe, establishing the commission of offences punishable under Sections 420 and 120-B IPC against the accused persons.

Consequently, the charge sheet has been submitted before the competent court in absentia by initiating proceedings under Section 512 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as the accused were not available during the filing of the charge sheet.

Police said further legal proceedings will follow as per the directions of the court.

SRINAGAR — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he has spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the evolving situation in Iran, particularly concerning the safety of students and other people from Jammu and Kashmir currently in the country.

In a post on social media, Omar Abdullah said the External Affairs Minister shared his assessment of the ground situation and briefed him on the plans being worked out by the Ministry of External Affairs to address emerging concerns.

“I am grateful for his assurance that all steps will be taken to safeguard the interests and lives of students and other people from J&K who are in Iran now,” the Chief Minister said in his post.

The statement comes amid growing concerns over the situation in Iran, with families of students studying there closely monitoring developments. The Chief Minister’s outreach has provided reassurance to many parents and relatives anxious about the well-being of their wards.

Officials said the Ministry of External Affairs remains in touch with Indian missions abroad and is closely tracking the situation to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals.

JAMMU — Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma on Thursday made strong remarks against sections of the bureaucracy, accusing them of arrogance, obstruction, and an unwillingness to accept the authority of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Satish Sharma, responding to a query on the prolonged delay in compassionate appointments in the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation, acknowledged that no such appointments have been made for a considerable period due to the non-implementation of SO12 and persistent bureaucratic red tape.

Sharma, as per the news agency KNT, said that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already held special meetings on the issue and assured that SO12 will be implemented shortly. He alleged that some officers were still functioning with a mindset shaped after 2019 and were unable to digest the return of an elected government.

“Some bureaucrats are drunk with arrogance and believe they are still running the system. They must understand that everything has an expiry. Nothing is permanent. Jammu and Kashmir will not remain a Union Territory forever, and no officer will rule for all time. Only God is permanent, and all of us are answerable for our actions before the Almighty,” Sharma said.

He warned officers against playing with the futures of deserving youth, stating that children eligible for compassionate appointments under SO12 should not be made victims of bureaucratic delays and personal egos. Sharma said obstructing such cases was not just administrative misconduct but a moral failure.

The minister alleged that some individuals were actively working to destabilize the elected government and were frustrated after failing to secure political power despite spending crores of rupees. “There cannot be two power centres. Two power centres are simply not possible. Time will change, and the day is not far when these elements will be exposed and will have no face to show,” he said.

Sharma also made a pointed appeal to media organizations, urging them to remain fair and unbiased. He said the media should act as a unifying force and not function as an extension of political or power interests.

Strongly defending the Chief Minister, Sharma said there is no secular leader like Omar Abdullah and claimed that his leadership has no comparison in terms of inclusiveness, democratic values, and public accountability.