Fake Gun License racket: CBI begins probe with mass raids on J&K’s ex-officials

Raids conducted at 9 place in Srinagar, 5 in Jammu, incriminating documents recovered

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 30-Dec-2019

After the then Jammu and Kashmir government handed over the fake gun license case to country’s premier investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI), the agency on Monday started the probe into the case by raiding 14 locations in J&K UT. The investigating agency raided residences of former deputy commissioner in Jammu and Srinagar, top officials in the CBI told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).This was the first massive operation by the CBI since the case was handed over to in August 2018. The operation by the country’s top investigating agency is also first since the J&K was divided into two Union Territories (UTs) by the Central government.The probe agency is investigating alleged irregularities in the grant of over two lakh arms licenses in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, homes of former deputy commissioners and district magistrates of Kupwara, Baramulla, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Shopian, Rajouri, Doda, Pulwama were searched.According to KNO, searches were carried out at the homes of Itrat Husain Rafiqi- retired IAS from Bandipora - who is now living in Srinagar. Former District Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Khan's Srinagar was also raided.Raids were also conducted at the residence and other premises linked to former Kupwara DC Rajeev Ranjan, former deputy commissioner Baramulla-Udhampur Yasha Mudgal, former Kupwara district magistrate Salim Mohammad, former Khistwar district magistrate Muhammad Javed Khan, former Rajouri district magistrate SC Bhagat, former Pulwama district magistrate Jehangir Ahmed Mir and Doda district magistrate Farooq Ahmed Khan. As per KNO, Rajeev Ranjan is currently serving the Jammu Metro Rail Corporation and Yasha Mudgil is presently the Managing Director of Jammu Power Distribution Corporation in Jammu.On July 12, 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had revoked individual gun licenses issued between January 2017 and February 2018, citing irregularities in the grant of licenses. The case was then sent to the CBI for probe in August the same year. "It was alleged that the former public servants in this conspiracy of issuance of licences to non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir in violation of rules, allegedly received gratification," said Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson in a statement issued here.Jammu and Kashmir was officially divided into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - on October 31 after Centre’s August 5 move to scrap its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution. The CBI does not need prior approval for carrying out raids in union territories. Today's action is the first by the probe agency since Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy was scrapped. (KNO)