Police Nab 'Charles Sobhraj of Kashmir' After Decade-Long Hunt

A breakthrough in the case has brought closure to several victims. As Jammu and Kashmir Police have finally apprehended Somnath Koul, alias Charles Sobhraj of Kashmir, a 80-year-old retired Ayurvedic doctor. Koul's arrest on September 24 marks the end of a nine-month-long hunt that began when police found his photograph affixed to one of the fake sale documents.

This led to a trail of fraudulent land deals dating back to 2017.

Investigations by the Crime Branch have revealed a complex web of deceit orchestrated by Koul. Who posed as a lawyer or the landowner himself. Capitalizing on his purported displacement in the 1990s due to rising militancy to lure buyers. However, the properties he sought to sell were never his to begin with.

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Koul instead targeted land left behind by the Pandits. Using fabricated documents to seal deals with unsuspecting buyers, before vanishing with the proceeds.

Further investigations have uncovered Koul's involvement in multiple cases beyond the 2017 incident, which was initially reported to the Srinagar Crime Branch. In 2021, Koul impersonated an attorney and sold a 1.5 kanal plot at Gulab Bagh Pandach in Srinagar to one buyer for 47 lakh rupees. However, the buyer reported that Koul had taken the money and vanished.

Two years later, the police received two additional complaints, alleging that Koul had promised the same land to two separate buyers at Humhama, near the Srinagar airport, in separate transactions.

Police investigations revealed that Koul had destroyed his fingertips and altered his iris scans, making it difficult to match his biometric data. His Aadhaar records showed that he had applied for an Aadhaar card in the name of Brijnath Bhat. A resident of Muthi in Jammu, in 2016.

The 'Agreement to sell' also showed his name as Somnath Koul.

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According to an officer connected with the probe, Koul's love for newspapers ultimately led to his downfall. Police officers began keeping a track of his reading material, which led them to the house of his acquaintance in Zewan. This discovery resulted in the uncovering of the fake sale documents, setting off the nine-month-long hunt.

The arrest of Somnath Koul marks a significant milestone in the case. Bringing closure to several victims who were swindled by his fraudulent land deals. The investigation has revealed a complex web of deceit and forgery.

This highlights the need for vigilance in protecting the rights of Valley residents.