Jammu, March 11: The Crime Branch Jammu has arrested a special secretary of Jammu and Kashmir home department, who has been retrospectively superannuated by the government, for forging and manipulating his date of borth in his service and official records.

In a statement, crime branch  spokesperson said that Crime Branch Jammu arrested Special Secretary (Legal) Home Department J&K, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Ganai son of Abdul Salam Ganai, a resident of Chadoora in district Budgam who has been retrospectively superannuated by the government as on 31 March, 2019.

He said that it has prima facie been established that Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Ganai forged and manipulated his own date of birth in his service/official records in connivance with others in order to take illegal monetary gains for himself and enjoy powers as Senior Legal Officer of the Union Territory.

“The accused has been produced before the Hon’ble Court of law and his police remand has been granted for investigation of the case,” the spokesperson said.

Crime branch said that a written communication was made with Crime Branch Jammu, by the J&K Government along with allied documents including a written complaint lodged by Ghulam Mohammad Bhat son of Medha Bhat, a resident of Hanjura area of Chadoora, alleging that Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Ganai who was till 05.03.2021 posted as Special Secretary (Legal) to Home Department J&K Govt, has used his official position to grab money and enjoy power as a Senior Legal Officer.

“It was also alleged that the accused has forged & manipulated his own Date of Birth in official records. As per his actual D.O.B, he was supposed to have retired two years back in March, 2019. By forgery & manipulations the accused has added four more years to his due government service, at senior rank by taking undue advantage of his official position,” the spokesperson said.

The statement reads that with access to corridors of power of the time accused arose from a daily wager in the office of Executive Engineer, Electric Division, Budgam to Special Secretary (legal) to Government of Jammu and Kashmir by managing out of turn promotions which prima facie appear to be in violation of rules and regulations and would be probed.

“He had also unsuccessfully pursued his case for induction into KAS in technical quota. The accused passed equivalent of matriculation examination in 1980 as private candidate and joined as daily wager in the office of Executive Engineer Electric Division Budgam. In 1985 he was regularized as Field Executive (Class-IV Employee). In 1989 the accused was appointed as Public Law Officer, in the same office and climbing the ladder reached to the rank of Special Secretary (Legal) in J&K Govt,” the statement said.

Interestingly, the officer got all education equivalent of Higher Secondary and Graduation without attending any regular Schools and Colleges.

“On the basis of an enquiry conducted by the Govt. the allegations of forgery and misuse of official position has been found to be prima-facie substantiated against the accused Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Ganai. Accordingly a formal criminal case has been registered under the relevant sections of law in Crime Branch Jammu for in-depth investigation for the omissions and commissions on the part of the accused and others,” reads the statement.

It further reads that the accused has been retrospectively superannuated from service on March 05 this year by the government with effect from the date on which he should have retired, March 2019.

“After the arrest of the said accused, unverified complaints have started pouring in Crime Branch Jammu regarding more such cases of violation of rules, which will also be verified,” the statement adds.