Premises of 20 gun dealers, IAS officers in J&K, Delhi searched
The CBI on Saturday conducted searches at around 40 locations in Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Anantnag, Baramulla and Delhi, including the premises of two IAS officers, in the on-going investigation of a case related to arms licence racket.
The CBI teams searched the premises of around 20 gun dealers and other public servants from early morning across multiple locations.
Some officials in connivance with gun dealers were involved in the issuance of more than 2.78 lakh arms licences to the non-entitled persons.
According to a statement issued by the CBI headquarters, “CBI had registered two cases on the request of J&K Government and further notification from Government of India, and taken over the investigation of two FIRs i.e No.18 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018, earlier registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK), and FIR No. 11 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018 of Police Station Vigilance Organisation Jammu (VOJ) on the allegations of bulk issuance of arms licences in the erstwhile State of J&K during the period 2012 to 2016”.
The CBI collected documents about the issuance of these arms licences allegedly spread over 22 districts of J&K.
During investigation and scrutiny of documents, the CBI reportedly found that certain gun dealers in connivance with District Magistrates were allegedly issued such illegal arms licences. The persons who got these licences were not residents of the places from where the said arms licences were issued.
Senior IAS officer Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who served as DM in three districts of Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua during the said period of investigation, posted a tweet confirming the raid at his residence. “With reference to media reports I’ve to confirm that CBI did search my residence & found nothing incriminating in the ongoing arms licence probe. Media friends may note the probe covers 4 years across all dists. I am fully answerable to CBI for my tenure,” Dr Shahid Iqbal wrote giving details of total arms licences issued during his tenure.
