HC upholds framing of charges in timber scam

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: In the much publicised multi-crore timber scam, High Court has dismissed petitions filed by seven accused and directed the trial court to decide the matter within six months.
These petitions were filed by Gurdeep Singh, the then Timber Passing Officer Jammu (DFO), Ghulam Mohd Khan, the then Forester posted under Timber Passing Officer Jammu, Sheikh Farooq of M/s J K Wood Products, Mohd Farooq Ganai of M/s Farooq and Co, Baldev Singh Syal of M/s Syal Enterprises, Mushtaq Ahmed Chaya of M/s Classic Timber Traders and Kuldeep Singh of M/s National Timber Traders.
Through these petitions these persons challenged order dated February 12, 2007 passed by then CJM Jammu whereby the accused were charge sheeted under Section 420/511, 468, 471 read with 120-B RPC in a challan presented by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in FIR No.RC004-2005 A 0012 dated October, 1, 2005.
After hearing Senior Advocate Z A Shah with Advocates Jagpal Singh, B R Chandan, Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Mohsin Bhat appearing for the petitioners/accused timber traders whereas Advocate Monika Kohli appearing for CBI, Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta dismissed all the three petitions by upholding the framing of charges by the CJM Jammu and vacated the stay order initially granted.
“Already more than 12 years have passed so trial court shall decide the matter expeditiously preferably within six months”, High Court said, adding “no casual adjournment shall be granted by the court below and prosecution shall take effective steps in producing witnesses”.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here