Farooq under CBI lens

Alleged irregularities in JK cricket association

In a farreaching development with political ramifications, the CBI has filed a charge sheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in connection with alleged irregularities and misappropriation of funds in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). Abdullah was interrogated by a CBI team in the alleged scam in January 10, 2018.

The specific charge against Farooq is that the BCCI gave Rs 112 crore to the JKCA between 2002 and 2011 for the development of cricket facilities in the state. Of this, Rs 43.69 crore was siphoned off and misappropriated by the accused, the CBI has alleged.

In 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had handed over the investigation into the scam to the CBI while indicting the state police for failing to carry out the probe in which former Abdullah had been named.

Along with the former CM, the then General Secretary Salim Khan, the then treasurer Afsan Ahmed Mirza and the then executive of J&K Bank Bashir Ahmed Misghar have also been chargesheeted. While referring to Abdullah's name in the scam and citing reasons for handing over the probe to the CBI, the court had said that the president of the JKCA is a "tall political personality" having served as the CM of the state and served as the Union minister in the previous government.

Abdullah’s complicity is alleged in granting approval to two contradictory resolutions pertaining to operation of bogus accounts of the JKCA to keep accused Ahsan Mirza in control of financial matters despite his ceasing to be a treasurer after the 2011 elections. The CBI has levelled charges of criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust against Abdullah.

Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Assosiation accounts were frozen following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two cricketersMajid Yaqoob Dar and Nissar Ahmad Khan- seeking to delve deeper into the alleged scam.