GUN LICENSE CASE | CBI files 2 chargesheets against 15 persons

Srinagar, Mar 20:  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Wednesday filed two chargesheets against 15 accused in the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Srinagar, in an ongoing investigation of a case related to the issuance of a large number of firearms licenses in J&K to ineligible persons in violation of rules during 2012-16.

A statement of the CBI issued here said that the case was registered by CBI in 2018 on the request of the then J&K government and further notification of DoPT, Government of India, transferring to CBI investigation of FIR No 18 of 2018 dated May 17, 2018, registered in Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK).

The matter pertains to the issuance of a large number of arms licenses to ineligible persons without due process from 2012 to 2016.

One of the chargesheets was filed under various sections of RPC, PC Act and Arms Act against 10 accused including the then District Magistrate, Kupwara, four gun house dealers, and a middleman while another chargesheet was filed under similar sections against the then ADM, Kupwara and four others including gun house dealers and middlemen for issuance of large number of such licenses to ineligible persons.

Investigation disclosed the nexus of the then Licensing Authority and District Magistrate with middlemen and other gun house dealers.

The statement said that in furtherance of the criminal conspiracy, the gun house dealers lured the defence personnel posted at faraway places in the country and got their arms license illegally issued from district Kupwara, despite those personnel neither being residents of J&K nor posted in the district, without Police verification.

It said that alleged illegal gratification per license was sought and collected by the gun house dealers and middlemen.

The statement said that the issuance of a large number of arms licenses in a bordering district like Kupwara in an illegal manner to ineligible persons was a matter of grave concern and posed a serious threat to law and order and public safety.

It said that further investigation into the case was continuing.