Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: The Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar today framed charges against four persons in fraud and illegal gun license scam.
Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar (CBI Cases) presided over by Suresh Chander framed charges against four accused including former District Magistrate Kulgam in fraudulent and illegal issuance of gun license.
The CBI while investigating the case revealed that during the period from 2012 to 2016 the District Magistrates of various districts including District Kulgam fraudulently and illegally issued gun licenses to various persons.
The case against many accused was registered in pursuance of notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of personnel & training) Government of India and with consent of the Government of J&K for transfer of FIR No. 18/2018 dated 17.05.2018 from Police Station VOK to CBI Chandigarh.
In the charge sheet filed by the CBI, the accused persons include Farooq Ahmad Khan, the then DM Kulgam (now retired), Ex-Stenographer and Judicial Clerk Owner of one M/S Imran Gun House Arms and Ammunition Dealer Wanpoh Anantnag and other persons.
The former DM of Kulgam has been accused to have fraudulently and illegally issued gun licenses in connivance with other accused and brazenly flouted the norms, procedures and rules governing the subject in lieu of money by misusing their official position as public servant.
“…Material evidence produced by CBI is sufficient to raise the grave suspicion as regards to the alleged involvement of accused persons in commission of alleged crime i.e abuse of official position by accused DM and Judicial Clerk in pursuance to criminal conspiracy hatched with other accused whereby the accused have fraudulently and illegally issued the Arms license in favour of many persons who were neither residing nor posted in district Kulgam at relevant time,” Special Judge Anti-Corruption (CBI Cases) said.
The court while framing charges against these accused under Sections of 120-B, 420 RPC r/w Section 5(1) (d)/5(2) J&K PC Act said the Arms licenses have been issued without verification of character and antecedents for monetary considerations as such prima facie case is made out for framing the charge against the accused persons against these persons.