Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 12: A week after Baseer Khan was removed as advisor to J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Central Bureau of Investigations carried out a raid at his house in Srinagar, official sources said.
They said the raid is part of the probe into the investigation of issuance of large-scale gun licences that had been procured from the militancy-infested J&K by submitting forged documents including that of armed forces personnel. It was alleged that more than 2.78 lakh arms licences were issued to the non-entitled persons. CBI also collected documents pertaining to the issuance of said armed licences allegedly spread over 22 districts of J&K.
An official statement issued by the CBI said that agency today conducted searches at around 41 locations including at Srinagar, Anantnag, Banihal, Baramulla, Jammu, Doda, Rajouri, Kishtwar (Jammu & Kashmir), Leh, Delhi & Bhind (Madhya Pradesh) at the official and residential premises of around 14 then public servants including then District Magistrates (IAS/KAS), District Information Officers, Clerks etc; around five private persons (middlemen/agents); around 10 Gun houses/dealers in an on-going investigation of a case related to Arms licence racket.
The agency, did not mention specifically, the names of the officers whose houses were searched.
“During searches, incriminating documents including issuance of arms licenses, list of beneficiaries, documents related to investment in FDRs & other sale proceeds, property documents, bank account details, locker keys, diary comprising incriminating details, arms license Registers, electronic gadgets/mobile phones and some cash including old currency were recovered,” the statement said.
Sources said that CBI teams raided the residence of former advisor Khan at Barzulla this morning. A large contingent of police was providing security to the raiding teams.
Khan, was appointed as advisor to Manoj Sinha in March last year. He was also advisor to the first Lieutenant Governor of J&K Union Territory Girish Chandra Murmu.
Last week, Khan was relieved as advisor. No reason was cited for his removal.
Khan was the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, when the Union government scrapped J&K’s special status and divided the state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. |
