J&K cops nab US citizen posing as IFS officer

SRINAGAR: The crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer on charges of who hiding the fact that he is a US citizen and securing the managing director post’s in the state forest corporation.

Ajaz Ahmed Bhat was arrested by crime branch sleuths when they raided his residence at Hyderpora late on Wednesday.  Bhat was removed and attached with the general administration department after chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad ordered a probe into a forest scam that cost forest minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal his job.

Ghulam Hyder Badana, additional superintendent of police (crime branch), said Bhat was arrested after reports of his US citizenship poured in.  “Bhat has been remanded to 10 days police custody. We are currently trying to piece together all the information we have about him,” Badana said.

Bhat was appointed managing director last year after he returned from the US on Indian visa till 2013.

Somehow, he was re-appointed, which is illegal under law and rules governing government employees.

“We have not charged him so far but we are investigating into this matter. It will be premature to comment any further on this issue,” said Badana.

The arrest of Bhat has also brought law and finance minister Tariq Hameed Qarra under scanner who was forest minister when Bhat was appointed director.

Qarra said: “How could I know when police, intelligence agencies and the Centre were not aware about his citizenship? He was in the list of 35 officers whose transfer I had recommended. It was the cabinet which gave the nod.”