J&K High Court reserves judgment in Roshni Scam

SRINAGAR — A Division Bench (DB) of Jammu and Kashmir High Court with Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal as its members on Thursday reserved its judgment in an application seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the infamous Roshni land scam.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under Application No. 48 was filed in the year 2014, highlighting encroachment on 20 lakh kanals of Government land by the powerful land mafia in league with politicians, Revenue and Police officers, where the litigant had sought a probe in the alleged land scam.

Advocate Ankur Sharma, during the course of proceedings submitted, “Given the structural problems and political interference crippling the ACB, both of which are reflected in its conduct of the last six years of investigation, the time is ripe to bring in an independent and professional agency like CBI for investigation”.

“The conduct of ACB is “suspect” and we can’t have suspects investigating the suspects,” he further submitted, adding “since beneficiaries include ministers, politicians, IAS/KAS officers, the ability of the ACB is crippled from within”.

While referring to CAG’s Report No. 1 of 2014, he submitted that an estimated loss of Rs 25,000 crore has been caused to the J&K exchequer by criminal and wrongful implementation of the Roshni Act. “Given its nature and quantum, Roshni scam is unprecedented in the history of J&K and finds no parallel in modern democracies, as such CBI enquiry is imperative,” he further said.

Advocate S S Ahmed drew the attention of the Division Bench towards various interim orders wherein displeasure was expressed with regard to Deputy Commissioners of six districts who intentionally and deliberately delayed the handing over of records to the State Vigilance Organization (now ACB).

He further submitted that Accountant General, J&K also accused Government of not cooperating with the audit teams and the Accountant General was compelled to hold a press conference, highlighting the indifference of the J&K Government.

He said that only the High Court-monitored CBI investigation would bring the culprits to book as nothing has been achieved since 2013.

Advocate Sheikh Faraz Ahmed also advanced arguments and submitted that the case should not be entrusted to CBI. He also highlighted that beneficiaries being represented by him never availed the benefit of Roshni scheme and they have been falsely implicated in the scam.

After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed in the PIL whereas senior AAG SS Nanda appearing for the UT Government, AAG Raman Sharma for ACB/GAD, Advocate Sheikh Faraz Iqbal for interveners/beneficiaries of Roshni scheme, Advocate Adarsh Sharma for JDA, Senior Advocate MA Goni appearing for occupants of State lands, Senior Advocate RK Gupta with Advocate Udhay Bhaskar and senior Advocate PN Raina with Advocate JA Hamal, DB came down heavily on the slackness on the part of ACB and the delay on the part of GAD in granting prosecution sanction.

Accordingly, Division Bench reserved its order both on entrustment of Roshni land scam to CBI and also in Application No 1972/2020.