Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Enforcement Directorate, Srinagar, today attached property of the former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE), Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, the prime accused in the BOPEE’s Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 paper sale scam.
Joint Director of Enforcement Directorate, Srinagar, Himanshu Kumar Lal, ordered attachment of Peer’s property under Section 5 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Enforcement Directorate was investigating a case (No. ECIR/01/SRZO/2013) registered against Peer for money laundering.
Sources said that assets of Peer worth Rs 60 lakh were attached by the Enforcement Directorate, Srinagar. “The attached property includes a 5 marla plot with a shed at Lane Number 11 at Sidra in Jammu; Flat No. 4, Upper Ground Floor, Building No. 125, Block A, Freedom Fighter Enclave, Neb Sarai, Near Gate No. 2, New Delhi; Flat No. 2/2A at Custodian General Flat at Wazarat Road, Jammu; his bank account (Account No. 041510000002228) at HDFC Bank, Residency Road Srinagar and bank account (Account No. 04151530005241)of his daughter, Iqra Mushtaq, at HDFC Bank, Residency Road Srinagar. The two bank accounts have deposits of Rs 10 lakh”, sources added.
Mushtaq Ahmad Peer was arrested last year in the BOPEE scam by Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Court has refused to grant him bail on the grounds that he is the prime accused and influential and may influence the witnesses.
According to a statement made before the court by Peer’s friend and co-accused, Farooq Ahmad Itoo of Bijbehara, the duo hatched a conspiracy to sell the answer papers along with their keys of CET-2012 for Rs 60 lakh to candidates seeking admission in GMC, Srinagar.
“Itoo paid Rs 30 lakh in advance to Peer and managed selection of nine candidates to MBBS course in 2012. The candidates include Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Naveed Hussain, Yasir Yusuf Dar, Yasir Yusuf Hajam, Waheedul Rehman, Bazila Bilal, Amira Shakeel. After the selection of these candidate to MBBS course, he paid the remaining Rs 30 lakh to Peer”, Itoo’s statement reveals.
Crime Branch arrested co-accused, students and parents while 17 accused are evading arrest and the investigating agency has issued look out notice against them. Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed that properties of the absconders be attached.
The BOPEE has cancelled admission of 21 students, selected fraudulently in MBBS course in Government Medical College, Srinagar and Crime Branch is investigating the cases of other beneficiaries in the scam.
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