Gun license case: CBI files 2 chargesheets against 15 accused

Srinagar, Mar 20: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said to have filed two chargesheets against 15 accused in the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Srinagar in an ongoing investigation of a case related to issuance of large number of FireArms licenses in J&K to ineligible persons in violation of Rules during the period 2012-16.
The spokesman said that the case was registered by CBI in 2018 on the request of the then State Government of Jammu & Kashmir and further notification of DoPT, Govt of India, transferring to CBI investigation of FIR No.18 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018 registered in Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK). The matter pertains to issuance of large number of arms license to ineligible persons without due process during the period 2012 to 2016, it said.
“One of the charge sheets was filed under various sections of RPC, PC Act & Arms Act against 10 accused including the then District Magistrate, Kupwara, 4 gun house dealers and middleman while another charge sheet was filed under similar sections against the then ADM, Kupwara and 4 others including gun house dealer and middlemen for issuance of large number of such licenses to ineligible persons,” the statement said.
Investigation disclosed the nexus of then Licensing Authority/District Magistrate with middlemen and other gun house dealers. In furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, the gun house dealers lured the defence personnel posted at far away places in the country and got their arms license issued from district Kupwara in an illegal manner, despite those personnel neither being resident of the State nor posted in the district, without police verification. Alleged illegal gratification per license were sought and collected by the gun house dealers and middlemen, the statement said.
Issuance of large number of arms licenses in a bordering district like Kupwara in illegal manner to ineligible persons is a matter of grave concern and poses serious threat to law & order and public safety, it said, adding that further investigation is going on.