Srinagar, July 29: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir, formerly known as the Crime Branch Kashmir, has secured the conviction of a former Indian Reserve Police (IRP) constable in a recruitment fraud case involving the use of a forged educational certificate to obtain government employment.

The Court of the Special Mobile Magistrate, 13th Finance Commission and Railway Magistrate, Srinagar, found Nazir Ahmad Malik, son of Abdul Aziz Malik and a resident of Bunpora Trehgam, Kupwara, guilty of fraudulently obtaining appointment as a constable in the 9th Battalion of the Indian Reserve Police by submitting a fake 10 2 qualification certificate.

During the investigation, the disputed certificate was seized and sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education for verification. The Board confirmed that the document was forged, strengthening the prosecution's case.

After completion of the trial, the court sentenced the convict to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code. In case of nonpayment of the fine, he will have to undergo an additional 15 days of simple imprisonment.

The court also awarded two years of simple imprisonment under Section 471 of the Ranbir Penal Code for using a forged document as genuine. Both sentences will run concurrently.