Arms Licensing Racket!
- CBI conducts searches at around 41 locations in J&K, Delhi, MP.
- Searches on 41 locations in J&K, Delhi and in Madhya Pradesh in an on-going infamous investigation of a case related to the J&K Arms licence racket.
JJ CORRESPONDENT
Srinagar, Oct 12: The Central Bureau of Investigation today has carried out the raids in the house of Baseer Khan ex-Advisor to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at his residence Srinagar, after the week of his removal from the post of Advisor and his ousting was the part of plan of investigation.
The CBI officials said the raid is part of the probe into the investigation of issuance of large-scale gun licences that had been procured from the militancy-infested J&K by submitting forged documents including that of armed forces personnel. It was alleged that more than 2.78 lakh arms licences were issued to the non-entitled persons.
CBI also collected documents pertaining to the issuance of said armed licences allegedly spread over 22 districts of J&K.
Sources said besides Baseer Khan (IAS J&K batch 2001), the searches were carried at the premises of Sajad Ahmed Khan (retired IAS J&K batch 2002), M Raju (IAS 2005 batch), Prasana Ramaswami ( IAS 2010), Nissar Ahmed Wani (KAS), M S Malik (KAS), Farooq Ahmed Khan (KAS), Bàseer Ahmed Khan (KAS) and Sanjay Puri, District Information Officer.
An official statement issued by the CBI said that agency today conducted searches at around 41 locations including at Srinagar, Anantnag, Banihal, Baramulla, Jammu, Doda, Rajouri, Kishtwar (Jammu & Kashmir), Leh, Delhi & Bhind (Madhya Pradesh) at the official and residential premises of around 14 then public servants including then District Magistrates (IAS/KAS), District Information Officers, Clerks etc; around five private persons (middlemen/agents); around 10 Gun houses/dealers in an on-going investigation of a case related to Arms licence racket.
The agency, did not mention specifically, the names of the officers whose houses were searched.
“During searches, incriminating documents including issuance of arms licenses, list of beneficiaries, documents related to investment in FDRs & other sale proceeds, property documents, bank account details, locker keys, diary comprising incriminating details, arms license Registers, electronic gadgets/mobile phones and some cash including old currency were recovered,” the statement said.
Sources said that CBI teams raided the residence of former advisor Khan at Barzulla this morning. A large contingent of police was providing security to the raiding teams.
Khan, was appointed as advisor to Manoj Sinha in March last year. He was also advisor to the first Lieutenant Governor of J&K Union Territory Girish Chandra Murmu.
Last week, Khan was relieved as advisor. No reason was cited for his removal.
Khan was the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, when the Union government scrapped J&K’s special status and divided the state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.
Besides, the sleuths of the CBI conducted searches at around 41 locations in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and in Madhya Pradesh in an on-going infamous investigation of a case related to the Jammu and Kashmir Arms licence racket.
The CBI spokesman said that raids were conducted this morning at Srinagar, Anantnag, Banihal, Baramulla, Jammu, Doda, Rajouri, Kishtwar areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Leh, Delhi and Bhind in Madhya Pradesh at the official and residential premises of around 14 then public servants including then District Magistrates (IAS/KAS), DIO, Clerks etc.
Around five private persons (middlemen/agents); around 10 Gun houses/dealers were also searched during an investigation.
“During searches, incriminating documents including issuance of arms licenses, list of beneficiaries, documents related to investment in FDRs and other sale proceeds, property documents, bank account details, locker keys, diary comprising incriminating details, arms license Registers, electronic gadgets/mobile phones and some cash including old currency were recovered,” said the spokesman.
He said that the CBI had registered two cases on the request of Jammu and Kashmir Government and further Notification from Government of India, and taken over the investigation of two FIRs earlier registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir and Jammu on the allegations of bulk issuance of arms licenses in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 2012 to 2016.
It was alleged that more than 2.78 lakh arms licences were issued to the non-entitled persons. CBI also collected documents pertaining to the issuance of said armed licences allegedly spread over 22 districts of J&K.
During investigation and scrutiny of documents, the role of certain gun dealers was found who in connivance with the public servants i.e. the then DM and ADM etc of concerned District, had allegedly issued such illegal arms licenses to the ineligible persons, he said.
“It was also alleged that the persons who got these licenses were not residents of the places from where the said arms licenses were issued. Investigation is continuing,” the spokesman revealed.
