CBI chargesheets Farooq, 3 others in Rs 43 cr JKCA scam

SRINAGAR: Three years after it took over the investigation from the state police, the CBI today filed a charge sheet against former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and three others for allegedly misappropriating over Rs 43 crore from grants given by the BCCI to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) for promoting cricket in the state between 2002 to 2011, even as the National Conference said that Senior Abdullah has full faith in judiciary and will cooperate with the court.

In its charge sheet filed in a special court here, the CBI alleged that Abdullah as the association president at that time had connived with the treasurer of JKCA and others for undue siphoning off and misappropriation of funds, a CBI spokesperson said in New Delhi.

The Investigation Agency could not file the chargesheet as the accused were not present on July 12 when Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) directed that the accused must be present in the court at the time of filing of chargesheet. The CBI had summoned all the accused to remain present in the court on July 12 when Abdullah was out of country.

The CBI has charged Abdullah and three others -- the then JKCA general secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan and the then treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, as also J&K Bank executive Bashir Ahmad Misgar -- under Ranbir Penal Code provisions related to criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

The National Conference, however, said Farooq Abdullah has full faith in the judicial system and re-asserts his commitment to cooperate with the court's proceedings in the matter relating to certain financial transactions of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

"Pertinently, it is important to yet again highlight, it was Farooq Abdullah who sought the registration of an FIR relating to this matter in the first place. Dr Farooq Abdullah has led his life guided by the strictest principles of selfless public service and probity. He is certain that truth shall prevail," the party said.

It said the party draws inspiration from Abdullah's resolve to fight earnestly for the truth to be upheld and continues to fully support him in this endeavour.

The Central probe agency, in a statement, said, "It was alleged that the BCCI had given Rs 112 crore (approx) to JKCA from the year 2002 to 2011 as grant for the promotion of the game of cricket in the State, out of which Rs 43.69 crore (approx) was siphoned off and misappropriated by the accused persons."

The CBI had taken over the case from the state police in 2015 on orders of a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The bench comprising the then Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat had pronounced the order on September 3, 2015, on a PIL filed by two cricketers -- Majid Yaqoob Dar and Nissar Ahmad Khan -- into the alleged scam.

As per reports, Abdullah in his response to the high court had refuted the allegations claiming that his name was being dragged to tarnish his political image.

The alleged scam was earlier investigated by a special team of the state police, which had failed to conclude its probe after nearly three years, prompting the High Court to hand it over to the CBI in 2015.