Have faith in fair probe, agencies free to act: Dy CM

Jammu, Feb 27: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday said he has faith in a fair investigation after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted raids at premises linked to his brother in a disproportionate assets case.
Speaking to reporters here, Choudhary said that he has no hesitation in giving a free hand to the investigating agencies and expressed confidence that justice would be delivered.
“I have faith in a fair probe. Let the agencies do their work. We are giving them a free hand and expect that there will be no pick and choose,” he said.
The ACB has widened its investigation against Vijay Choudhary in connection with alleged assets disproportionate to known sources of income. On Wednesday and Thursday, teams conducted searches at multiple locations in Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur districts, officials said.
According to officials, preliminary findings point to movable and immovable assets worth crores of rupees. During the searches, documents related to properties and business establishments allegedly operated in the names of family members were seized.
Investigators have also found that two stone crushers are being run in Jammu and Kathua districts in the names of the accused and his family members, officials said, adding that documents indicating properties outside Jammu were also recovered.
The ACB team also seized records related to mining licences, royalty payments and other approvals. At the mining department office in Udhampur and a construction site, officials collected documents pertaining to ownership and investments. Financial records and transaction details recovered during the two-day operation are being examined, they said.
Reacting to the developments, the deputy chief minister said allegations cause distress, particularly to family members, but reiterated that if any wrongdoing is established, action should follow. “If we have done anything wrong, we will face the law. If not, we trust the judiciary to ensure justice,” he said.
Choudhary also said illegal mining in rivers will not be tolerated and directed officials to ensure strict enforcement. He said no vehicle should lift material from crushers without proper documentation and added that mining licences (MDLs) have been cancelled, while officials have been asked to frame a transparent mining policy for the Union Territory.
Referring to a court relief granted to Arvind Kejriwal in an excise policy-related case, Choudhary said the decision strengthened faith in the country’s legal system. (KNO)