Srinagar, Apr 6, KNB: A Srinagar court has directed registration of an FIR against a man accused of duping multiple women on the pretext of marriage, observing that the allegations disclose serious cognizable offences and a consistent pattern of deception.
The order was passed by Special Mobile Magistrate PT&E Srinagar, Massarat Jabeen, in a case involving accused Maroof Hussain Rather, a resident of Pattan in Baramulla district. The applicants were represented by advocate Rehaan Gowhar.
According to the court record, the accused allegedly approached women through social media and personal contacts, luring them into relationships with promises of marriage. The court noted that after gaining their trust, the accused would seek money on various pretexts, including medical emergencies involving family members.
The complaint before the court alleged that the accused fabricated stories about serious illnesses of his relatives, including claims of cancer, to extract large sums of money. In one instance, the accused is stated to have obtained several lakhs of rupees from a victim, while in other cases he allegedly took amounts running into lakhs using similar tactics.
The court observed that the accused not only failed to return the money but also resorted to intimidation when confronted. He allegedly threatened victims with dire consequences, including defamation and misuse of their personal data and photographs, thereby preventing them from approaching authorities.
As per the material placed on record, the accused is also alleged to have impersonated himself as a government official and misrepresented his family background to gain credibility. The court noted that such acts indicate a deliberate and systematic modus operandi aimed at exploiting victims emotionally and financially.
The order further records that despite complaints being made to the police, no FIR was initially registered. Instead, preventive proceedings were initiated and assurances were reportedly taken from the accused regarding repayment of money. However, the court observed that such measures cannot substitute the mandatory requirement of registering an FIR when cognizable offences are disclosed.
“On the face of it, the allegations satisfy the ingredients of cognizable offences requiring immediate registration of a formal FIR and investigation in accordance with law,” the court held.
The court also took note of multiple complaints against the accused, suggesting that the acts were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern. It observed that the accused’s conduct involved cheating, criminal intimidation, impersonation, and emotional exploitation.
Expressing concern over police inaction, the court stated that failure to register an FIR in such cases defeats the very purpose of the criminal justice system. It emphasized that once information disclosing a cognizable offence is brought before the police, registration of FIR is a statutory obligation.
Accordingly, the court allowed the application and directed the Station House Officer of Police Station Ahmad Nagar, Srinagar, to register an FIR against the accused and proceed with investigation strictly in accordance with law.
The application was disposed of with directions for compliance, marking a significant step towards legal action in the matter.(KNB)