Arms Licensing Racket: CBI conducts searches at 41 locations in JK

New Delhi, Oct 12: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted searches at around 41 locations including at Srinagar, Anantnag, Banihal, Baramulla, Jammu, Doda, Rajouri, Kishtwar (Jammu & Kashmir), Leh, Delhi and Bhind (Madhya Pradesh).
The searches were conducted at the official and residential premises of around 14 then public servants including then DMs (IAS/KAS), DIO, 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.
During searches, incriminating documents including issuance of arms licenses, list of beneficiaries, documents related to investment in FDRs and 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 issued reads.
“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 licenses in the erstwhile State of J & K during the period 2012 to 2016.”
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, it said.
“During investigation and scrutiny of documents, the role of certain gun dealers was found who in connivance with the public servants i.e. the then DM and ADM etc of concerned district had allegedly issued such illegal arms licenses to the ineligible persons. It was also alleged that the persons who got these licenses were not residents of the places from where the said arms licenses were issued,” the statement said, adding that investigation is going on in this regard.