A court in Srinagar on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah after rejecting his exemption plea in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case.
The order was issued by the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Srinagar during the hearing of the case for framing of charges on Thursday.The JKCA scam is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
During the hearing today, the court rejected the exemption application filed on behalf of Abdullah, who is listed as accused number five in the case, noting that his counsel stated that the accused could neither appear physically nor through virtual mode.The court subsequently directed its office to issue a non-bailable warrant against him.
“..Keeping into view the contents of the application, the counsel for the accused (Abdullah) was given an option to ensure the presence of the accused through virtual mode however counsel did not consent and stated that accused could neither physically nor via virtual mode appear before the court. Application for exemption is rejected. Office is directed to issue NBW against accused no. 5,” the court order read.
The court also rejected the exemption plea of another accused Manzoor Gazanfar Ali- and issued an NBW against him. Other accused in the case were present before the court during the proceedings. The matter has been listed for recording of statements of the accused on March 30. The court said that if any of the accused fails to appear on the next date of hearing, appropriate orders will follow.The court also directed other accused persons to file objections to an application moved by a bank, noting that the CBI has already submitted its objections. The court said accused number four Bashir Ahmad Misgar, a banker, need not file objections, while two accused have already been granted pardon.
In 2018, the CBI filed chargesheeted against Abdullah and five others for allegedly siphoning Rs 43 crore from grants provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to the JKCA. The CBI alleged that the funds were misappropriated between 2002 and 2011, when Abdullah was serving as president of the JKCA.
In the previous hearing, the court said there is prima facie evidence against the accused including Abdullah and observed that “the essential ingredients of offences under Sections 120-B, 406 and 409 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) are made out” and the accused will be charged accordingly.