Crime Branch Kashmir Arrests Long-Absconding Accused in Multi-Crore Fraud Case

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has arrested a long-absconding accused, identified as Soom Nath Koul, in connection with multiple multi-crore fraud cases involving cheating, forgery, and illegal land transactions. Acting on directions from the Court of the Sub-Judge, Srinagar, a specialized police team apprehended the suspect after years of evasive tactics and identity concealment.

Multi-Year Manhunt Concludes with Targeted Operation

Following sustained intelligence gathering and tactical surveillance, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Srinagar successfully tracked down and apprehended Soom Nath Koul. Koul, the son of Kalash Nath Koul, was originally recorded as a resident of Lotus Tower in Bengaluru, Karnataka, but had recently been residing in Janipur, Jammu, to evade law enforcement.

According to officials, the accused had remained on the run for several years despite multiple "Hue and Cry" notices published across print and digital media platforms to trace his whereabouts. Investigators revealed that Koul relied on an array of aliases—including Brij Nath Bhat, Hadi Nath Dhar, and Mohan Lal Dhar—to obfuscate his identity while conducting fraudulent business dealings across Jammu and Kashmir. A dedicated EOW team was constituted specifically to execute the judicial directives issued by the Srinagar court, ultimately apprehending him through coordinated field work.

Anatomy of the Multi-Crore Land Fraud Scheme

The arrest stems from a series of five separate criminal cases registered with Crime Branch Kashmir, all centering around complex land manipulation, criminal conspiracy, and financial fraud. The core of the illicit operation involved migrant properties across the Kashmir Valley.

1. Exploitation of Migrant Properties: The accused specifically targeted lands and real estate belonging to displaced migrants, exploiting the absence of property owners to manufacture fake ownership documentation.

2. Document Forgery and Fabrication: Using falsified Powers of Attorney and fraudulent "agreements to sell," Koul misrepresented himself as a legitimate legal proxy or owner of high-value land parcels.

3. Deception via False Personas: Operating under changing aliases, Koul induced unsuspecting buyers into investing massive sums, collecting crores of rupees for disputed or non-transferable real estate.

4. Prior Legal Action In Absentia: Due to his persistent evasion, Crime Branch Kashmir had previously submitted a comprehensive chargesheet against Koul in absentia under Section 512 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Co-Conspirators and Broader Investigation

The investigation indicates that Koul did not operate entirely in isolation. Crime Branch officials emphasized that the multi-crore scam was executed in connivance with a broader network of facilitators and land brokers.

Last week, EOW officers arrested an accomplice, Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Dar of Jawalapora, Budgam, who was allegedly involved in facilitating the illegal sales and transactions. Both arrests mark significant breakthroughs as forensic auditors and investigators work to untangle the financial trail, unearth additional forged land records, and identify other collaborators linked to the syndicate.

Advisory Issued to the Public

In light of the arrest, the Economic Offences Wing issued an official public advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution when entering into real estate and property transactions. Authorities advised buyers to thoroughly verify revenue records, ensure the authenticity of Powers of Attorney with local administration, and report any suspicious real estate proposals directly to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), EOW Srinagar, or through official channels. Further legal proceedings against Koul are underway in the Srinagar court.