Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday defended his brother, suspended police officer Vijay Choudhary, in the Enforcement Directorate’s case and termed it “selective targeting.”
“My brother is someone who has fought against militancy and has survived militant attacks,” he said.
Choudhary said that despite his brother’s service for which he should have been rewarded, he was being targeted, and warned that the files would one day be opened and those responsible would have to answer.
The deputy chief minister asserted that he would not be intimidated by the filing of a case against his brother, adding that “every oppression has an end.”
Choudhary, however, said any matter concerning his family should be decided by the judiciary rather than being debated by him in public.
“I would rather leave it to the investigating agencies and the court. I have complete faith in my judiciary,” Choudhary told reporters on the sidelines of his inspection of a government hospital here.
The ED has booked Vijay under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), while an FIR has already been registered against him by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The case relates to allegations of managing dozens of assets through benami transactions and money laundering.
The deputy chief minister also criticised the functioning of the BJP and said the party seeks Muslim votes during elections but resorts to “Hindu-Muslim politics” once elections are over, calling it “unfortunate” for Jammu and Kashmir and the country.
He also said there had been significant improvement in hospital management after the formation of the NC-led government, stressing the need to treat doctors and paramedical staff properly and urging people to remain vigilant about these issues.
