JKCA scam referred to Spl Court dealing with money laundering

SRINAGAR: The trial of infamous multi-crore J&K Cricket Association scam has been referred to the Special Court designated under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar under the said Act.

The court of CJM Srinagar Gowhar Majeed Dalal consigned the trial of alleged multi crore scam in J&K Cricket Association to Principal District Judge Srinagar which is designated court for trial of the case under PMLA for its further trial.

The investigation of the case was entrusted to CBI by the High Court with the direction to conclude the investigation into the matter within six months. However, CBI on various occasions moved applications for extension of time from the court in completing the investigation.

Finally the High Court in February 2018 closed the proceedings in the case after the counsel representing CBI informed the court that the investigation into the alleged scam has been completed and after proper formalities, the challan in this connection was produced before the court of law in the same year.

CBI after thorough investigation into the scam has revealed that as much as 368 documents have been collected from Srinagar police, auditors of JKCA based in Srinagar, JKCA officer Srinagar, BCCI Mumbai, HDFC Bank Mohali Punjab, ICICI Bank Chennai, different branches of J&K Bank located in Srinagar and Jammu and 75 persons, including office bearers of BCCI, JKCA, Banks, private persons related to the case have been examined.

It has emerged during investigation that a total amount of Rs 1,12,33,04,618 (approx) had been paid by the BCCI to JKCA during April 2002 to 31.12.11 as annual grants.

It has also transpired from the investigation that huge amounts have been transferred from the accounts of JKCA to the accounts of different individuals, who were either office bearers of JKCA or having no connection with the JKCA.

The CBI has traced those accounts which have been opened clandestinely and operated by the then office bearers of JKCA for siphoning off the funds of JKCA as also money flow chart has been prepared.

In the charge sheet produced by the CBI before the trial court apart from other office bearers of JKCA, the name of then president JKCA, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has been mentioned in the challan.

Abdullah who is one of the accused named by CBI in its charge sheet in JKCA multicrore scam presented himself before Chief Judicial Magistrate on previous date and was granted bail.

The CJM after committing the case to Special Court under PMLA, directed the accused to appear before the PMLA designated court on February 11 for further trial.

While committing the case to PMLA court, CJM said case under the provisions of law is to be transferred to the said court before which the complaint was filed under the Act as the Special court has been given powers and jurisdiction to conduct the case both for scheduled offences and offences under PMLA.

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