A Muslim youth from Kishtwar, who approached the state high court seeking custody of a Hindu girl from the same area as his legally wedded wife, landed in police lockup after the marriage certificate produced by him was found to be forged. Pointing out that a practicing advocate too has been arrested in the matter, police said that this followed investigation into the case which was registered by Crime Branch, Jammu, on directions of the state high court. Both the arrested persons have been identified as Showkit Hussain Khan of Sopore and Haq Nawaz Hussain of Kishtwar. The former has been a practicing advocate in Saddar Court, Kashmir. Giving details, police said that Haq Nawaz had filed a case against the state of Jammu Kashmir and another seeking production of Ambika Thakur alias Aisa before the court and later handing over her custody to him as his legally wedded wife. Alleging that the girl was in illegal custody of her father Sunil Kumar of Kishtwar, he had also produced the marriage deed purported to have been registered by a judicial officer K S Sethi. However, as there existed no such judicial officer, the high court issued a notice to Haq Nawaz who stated the he and Ambika Thakur had gone to Saddar Courts, Srinagar, for execution and attestation of documents and they did not know whether these had been registered by the competent court. He further told the high court that the marriage agreement was registered by Munsiff Magam. To ascertain the truth, the high court ordered Crime Branch to register a case against the petitioner and others who were involved in the matter. During the course of investigations, it was found that the marriage deed was neither attested nor registered in the court of Munsiff Magam nor Sub Registrar, Srinagar. Rather, one Showkat Hussain advocate had purchased stamp papers from two stamp vendors – Sheikh Parvaiz Ahmed and Bilal Ahmed Wani. The deed of declaration executed by Ambika Thakur alias Aisa dated November 8, 2011 was prepared and presented by Showkat Hussain advocate for attestation before Notary Mohammad Aslam Wani. During perusal of forged marriage agreement, apart from Showkat Hussain, the name of another advocate Farooq Ahmed Wani was also found on it. The forensic science laboratory at Jammu confirmed Showkat Hussain having forged the signatures of advocate Farooq Ahmed also on the documents, the police said, adding that a challan has been presented against both the accused in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate at Srinagar.
