Srinagar, October 19: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and J&K Cricket Association ( JKCA) President Dr. Farooq Abdullah in connection with a money laundering probe in a case related to the alleged embezzlement of JKCA funds.
This was reported by news agency PTI and it further said that National Conference president’s statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as in the past.
It is not the first time Dr Farooq has been questioned by ED. The ED case is based on an FIR filed by the CBI, which booked former JKCA office-bearers, including general secretary Mohammed Saleem Khan and former treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza.
The CBI later filed a chargesheet against Abdullah, Khan, Mirza as well as Mir Manzoor Gazanffer Ali, Bashir Ahmad Misgar and Gulzar Ahmad Beigh (former accountant of JKCA) for the “misappropriation of JKCA funds amounting to Rs 43.69 crore” from grants given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to promote the sport in the state between 2002-11.
The ED said its probe found that JKCA received Rs 94.06 crore from BCCI in three different bank accounts during financial years 2005 2006 to 2011 2012 (up to December 2011).
Abdullah’s son Omar Abdullah tweeted that the National Conference would be responding to the ED summons shortly.
“This is nothing less then political vendetta coming days after the formation of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. To set the record straight no raids are being conducted at Dr Sahib’s residence,” he tweeted.
Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has also termed questioning as political vendetta.
She Tweeted, ” ED’s sudden summon to Farooq sahab displays the extent of GOIs nervousness about mainstream parties in J&K fighting as one unit. Also reeks of political vendetta & wont in the least blunt our collective resolve to fight for our rights”.
People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone has also reacted to the questioning of Dr Farooq Abdullah.
“What a sorry state of affairs. Dr Farooq sahib summoned by ED. Reeks of vendetta. Contrary to what they want to coercively achieve this will certainly have the opposite impact, ” He tweeted.