The News Craving
Srinagar:
A complaint has been filed with the Crime Branch J&K against National Conference (JKNC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, alleging that he provided false information in his nomination papers for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The complaint, lodged by Mubashir Mushtaq, was forwarded to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar, for preliminary verification under the directions of the Crime Branch Headquarters.
Ruhullah, the National Conference candidate from Parliamentary Constituency-02 (Central J&K), is accused of misrepresentation and forgery of official records. The complainant alleges that Ruhullah falsely declared his age as 46 in the affidavit submitted to the Returning Officer (RO). Evidence obtained through an RTI inquiry indicates that Ruhullah was born on August 12, 1982, which would make him 42 at the time of filing his nomination, not 46 as claimed.
The verification process, conducted by the Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch, involved cross-referencing official records from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and other government departments. These records confirmed that Ruhullah’s date of birth is August 11, 1982, as recorded in official birth registers and on his passport. Additionally, the inquiry revealed discrepancies between the birth year stated in Ruhullah’s passport and the one declared in his election affidavit.
The complaint also highlighted inconsistencies in Ruhullah’s educational records, further verifying that he was born in 1982. Reportedly, Ruhullah attached supporting documents, such as his PAN and Aadhaar cards, during his passport application in 2017, both of which confirmed his 1982 birth year.
The preliminary inquiry findings suggest that Ruhullah knowingly submitted false information in his affidavit, which could result in legal action under Section 181 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for submitting false information to a public servant. The detailed report, along with the evidence collected, has been submitted to the authorities for further action.