Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police have exposed a well‑organized scam that baited victims with promises of government jobs, Special Police Officer (SPO) appointments, official clearances and overseas travel opportunities.

Complaint Triggers Probe into Fake SPO Appointment

The case opened after a resident filed a grievance at Beerwah police station on 17 August 2026. He alleged that he paid roughly Rs 3 lakh after being assured of an SPO posting, only to receive a fabricated appointment and recommendation letter that appeared to be issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Verification showed the document bore the name of the then Union Home Secretary and was addressed to the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, seemingly confirming the recruitment of ten youths from various Budgam villages as Special Police Officers.

Search Uncovers a Cache of Counterfeit Official Documents

Investigators traced the operation to advocate Jahangir Ahmad Dar. A raid on his rented flat in Nanak Nagar, Jammu, yielded forged government orders, official‑looking stamps, 12 ATM cards, blank bank letterheads, identity proofs and passport‑visa paperwork.

A diary found at the premises appears to record financial transactions. Police are analysing its entries to map the money trail and to identify any additional conspirators.

Victims Lured with Employment and Benefit Promises

Pre‑liminary findings suggest the racket has been active since 2019. Authorities estimate the fraud could involve roughly Rs 2 crore, though the investigation is ongoing.

Several complaints mention payments of Rs 2.3 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 27 lakh to the fraudsters. The perpetrators allegedly enticed victims by promising government jobs, SPO recruitment, scheme approvals, subsidies and foreign travel.

The scheme began with a modest upfront fee. Once trust was gained, the scammers demanded ever‑larger sums, targeting especially economically vulnerable groups such as daily‑wage labourers.

WhatsApp ‘View Once’ Feature Used to Share Fake Files

Police discovered that many forged documents were shared using WhatsApp’s ‘View Once’ mode, which erases the media after a single view. Investigators are probing whether this method was chosen to make the counterfeit files harder to preserve or trace.

Passport and Visa Papers Suggest an International Angle

The seizure of passport‑ and visa‑related material adds another dimension to the case. Authorities are now examining whether the network had overseas contacts or if promises of foreign admission and travel were part of the same deception.

Investigators are scrutinising the confiscated documents, financial records and other evidence to reconstruct the full structure of the alleged operation.

Possibility of Further Arrests

Police believe the two men already in custody – advocate Jahangir Ahmad Dar and JKPF chairman Firdous Nabi – could be linked to a wider conspiracy. Their interrogations aim to reveal additional participants, the total amount siphoned, the number of victims and the breadth of forged government paperwork employed.

Officials caution that more arrests are likely as the investigation delves deeper into the network’s inner workings.