Budgam, Dec 30: A local court in Beerwah has convicted a Budgam resident in a cheque dishonour case and sentenced him to eight months of simple imprisonment along with payment of compensation amounting to more than Rs 2.65 lakh.

The conviction was recorded by the Court of Additional Special Mobile Magistrate, Beerwah in a complaint filed by Haneef Mohammad Sheikh, an inhabitant of Gondipora Beerwah, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The case pertained to the dishonour of a cheque issued in 2019 towards payment for bricks supplied from Sheikh Brick Kiln.

As per court records, the accused, Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh of Kawoosa Khalisa, Narbal, had issued a cheque amounting to Rs 1,91,798 to clear outstanding dues. The cheque, however, was returned unpaid by Jammu and Kashmir Bank on account of insufficient funds.

Despite the service of a statutory legal notice, the accused failed to make the payment within the prescribed period, compelling the complainant to seek legal remedy before the court.

During the trial, the court examined oral and documentary evidence, including testimonies of bank officials and postal authorities. After appreciating the material on record, the court held that the complainant had successfully established the existence of a legally enforceable debt and the issuance of the cheque by the accused. The defence version was rejected as it was not supported by any credible evidence.

Upon conviction, the court sentenced the accused to eight months of simple imprisonment. Additionally, he was directed to pay compensation of Rs 2,65,640, which includes the cheque amount along with interest, within a period of three months. The court further ordered that in case of default in payment of compensation, the accused shall undergo an additional two months of simple imprisonment.

The court observed that the cheque amount had remained unpaid for more than six years, resulting in financial loss to the complainant. The accused was also ordered to be lodged at the Central Jail Srinagar to serve the sentence. [KNT]

Srinagar, Dec 30: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch Kashmir has submitted a chargesheet against a Bihar resident for allegedly duping around 1,300 innocent candidates of huge sums of money on the false pretext of providing tuition and employment opportunities, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the EOW Kashmir filed the chargesheet in case FIR No. 04/2022 under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC before the Court of Sub-Judge, Sumbal, against the accused–Ranjeet Prasad S/o Samdeo Prasad, resident of Maksudpur, Police Station Unchkagaon, Sasmusa, Gopalganj, Bihar.

The case originated from a written complaint alleging that True Dreams Project India Pvt. Ltd. (TDPI), through its Director Ranjeet Prasad, conducted a recruitment campaign , during which around 1,300 trainees were engaged through company representatives in Kashmir. It was alleged that the trainees were promised a monthly salary ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 12,000, but were instead required to deposit Rs. 2,400 per trainee as a registration fee. Despite collecting the said amount, no salary was paid to the trainees.

During the course of investigation, it was prima facie established that several innocent students were allegedly cheated and defrauded on the pretext of providing tuition and employment opportunities.

The acts and omissions on the part of the accused disclose offences punishable under Sections 420 and 120-B IPC. The investigation, supported by both oral and documentary evidence, has been concluded as proved against the accused Ranjeet Prasad (Director TDPI).

As the accused failed to cooperate with the investigating agency and could not be traced at the given address, the chargesheet has been submitted in absentia by initiating proceedings under Section 512 CrPC.

Kupwara, Dec 29: Traders and residents in Kupwara town have voiced strong resentment against the municipal authorities over the dumping of garbage in the heart of the town’s main market, alleging that the practice is causing inconvenience, health concerns and business losses.

Shopkeepers said waste is being routinely dumped at multiple locations in the busy commercial hub, leaving heaps of garbage along shopfronts and pedestrian areas. They alleged that the problem has persisted despite repeated appeals to the authorities.

President of the Traders Federation Kupwara, Mohammad Ishaq, told Greater Kashmir that sanitation workers of the Municipal Council Kupwara dump garbage in the market daily. “Every day heaps of waste are dumped at different locations in the main market, causing immense hardship to shopkeepers and the general public,” he said. “It is unfortunate that despite repeated reminders, the practice continues unabated.”

Ishaq claimed that Kupwara may be among the few districts where municipal authorities are using the main commercial centre as a dumping area. He said the practice not only affects business activity but also exposes shopkeepers, customers and residents to serious health and sanitation risks.

Traders have sought the immediate intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb, demanding that municipal officials stop dumping garbage in the main market and ensure that waste is transported directly to designated disposal sites.

Responding to the allegations, the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Kupwara said that a few locations in the market are being used as temporary transit points, from where garbage is later lifted and taken to the designated dumping site. He said these arrangements are interim in nature and will remain in place until a permanent solution is put in place.

However, traders maintained that the temporary dumping has effectively turned the main market into a garbage zone, calling for an urgent and lasting resolution to the problem.