Srinagar May 31 (KINS): The Economic Offences Wing of the J&K Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against a current official of the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) in relation to an age fraud case during his playing days for J&K.
The FIR has been registered against the accused, Majid Yaqub Dar, who currently serves as the JKCA Srinagar Incharge, under Sections 420, 467, and 471 of the RPC vide number 26/2023/794, on May 25, 2023, following an initial investigation conducted by the police’s Economic Offences Wing.
The complaint against Majid Dar was filed by the former Chief Executive Officer of JKCA in 2021, while the police have now found evidence suggesting a prima facie fraud case against Dar, leading to the registration of the FIR.
According to the FIR report, the Crime Branch Kashmir received a written complaint from the CEO of J&K Cricket Association Srinagar, stating that Majid Yaqub Dar had played for the JKCA from 2000 to 2014 in BCCI-sponsored national tournaments. It was also alleged that Dar had submitted a fraudulent date of birth certificate in 2013 and had been playing cricket with different birth certificates since 2004.
The FIR report further revealed that during the registration for the Ranji Trophy in 2013, Dar had presented a Date of Birth Certificate indicating his birth date as December 30, 1978, while his actual date of birth is December 30, 1970-an investigation was initiated by the Crime Branch Kashmir based on these allegations.
Preliminary findings, as per the FIR, indicate that Majid Yaqub Dar had submitted a fake date of birth certificate, leading to the commission of offences punishable under sections 420, 467, and 471 of the RPC.
The FIR read, “During the probe, prima facie has been established that the accused, Majid Yaqub Dar, son of Mohammad Yaqub Dar and resident of Ishber Nishat Srinagar, submitted a fake/forged D.O.B certificate while registering himself for playing cricket in the BCCI-sponsored National tournament during the year 2012-2013. The act of omission and commission on the part of the accused prima facie discloses the commission of offences punishable under sections 420, 467, and 471 of the RPC. The case has been registered at the Economic Offence Wing (Crime Branch) Kashmir, and the investigation has been entrusted to Mohammad Amin Gatoo.”
It is noteworthy that Majid Dar has been serving as the JKCA Srinagar Incharge since June 16, 2021, appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He reports to a three-member JKCA subcommittee, also appointed by the BCCI.
However, in light of the FIR, it remains to be seen how the BCCI will respond to the charges against the former cricketer while concerns have been raised about potential tampering with evidence, given Dar’s position within the cricket body.