Arms License Scandal: Two Ex-DC’s sent to police custody

SRINAGAR — The Special Judge (CBI Cases) Srinagar on Monday remanded two former District Magistrates of Kupwara for 10 days of police custody in a case related to irregularities in the issuance of arms licenses.

Both the accused were arrested by CBI in an ongoing investigation of the said case.

In a statement issued here, CBI had registered a case on the consent of the J&K Government and further Notification from the Government of India and took over the investigation of FIR No. 18 of 2018 dated 17.05.2018, earlier registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK).

“The allegations in the case were that during the period 2012 to 2016, the Dy. Commissioners of various districts of J&K, including District Kupwara had fraudulently and illegally issued bulk arms licenses in lieu of monetary consideration,” the statement said.

It said, “During the investigation to unearth the deep-rooted conspiracy in the issuance of illegal arms licenses, CBI has arrested a private person on 24.02.2020 on the allegations of working as a conduit of gun dealers and officials of various districts of the then State of J&K and also indulged in various financial transactions with other co-accused persons, including public servants.”

“Presently, the arrested private person is in CBI custody up to 05.03.2020,” the statement said.

It said that during further investigation, the alleged role of both the then-District Magistrates, Kupwara surfaced during their tenure as District Magistrate, Kupwara (J&K).