CBI Raids 22 Locations, Senior IAS Officer’s Home In J&K Gun License Scam

Srinagar, Jul 24: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday raided 22 locations in J&K including 12 in Kashmir in connection with the fake gun license case, officials said.

Quoting an official, news agency KNO reported that CBI sleuths conducted extensive raids at 22 places in J&K which includes 12 places in Kashmir and 10 in Jammu region.

The raids were conducted in connection with the fake gun license case that was handed over to CBI in 2018, the official said

The case was first probed by Anti-Terror Squad of Rajasthan after which it was handed over to CBI after startling revelations about fake gun licenses given to non-J&K residents surfaced.

The ATS had nailed that 40,000 fake gun licenses were issued to non-J&K residents in Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kupwara districts on forged documents.

Initial probe had revealed that an IAS officer had issued a large number of fake gun licenses to non-J&K residents when he was heading a district as Deputy Commissioner (DC).

Since 2012 over two lakh gun licenses have been issued illegally from J&K. It is believed to be India’s biggest gun license racket.

Last year two officials, including IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan, were arrested by the CBI. Mr Ranjan and Itrat Hussain Rafiqui, during their tenures as Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara district, allegedly illegally issued several such licences.

In February last year the agency arrested a private individual who was “involved in various financial transactions with other co-accused, including public servants”.

The CBI has previously said it has unearthed a “deep-rooted conspiracy” in this matter.

The scam was first discovered by Rajasthan’s Anti-Terror Squad in 2017, when they arrested Mr Ranjan’s brother and others working as middlemen for gun dealers.

The CBI raided 22 locations in Jammu and Kashmir this morning, including the residence of senior J&K IAS officer Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, in connection with the illegal sale of gun licenses.

Mr Choudhury is currently Secretary (Tribal Affairs) and CEO Mission Youth, J&K. He previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, Reasi, Rajouriand Udhampur districts, during which time he allegedly issued thousands of licenses – under fake names – to people in other states and UTs.

At least eight former Deputy Commissioners are being investigated by the central agency.

Since 2012 over two lakh gun licenses have been issued illegally from J&K. It is believed to be India’s biggest gun license racket.

Last year two officials, including IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan, were arrested by the CBI. Mr Ranjan and Itrat Hussain Rafiqui, during their tenures as Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara district, allegedly illegally issued several such licences.

In February last year the agency arrested a private individual who was “involved in various financial transactions with other co-accused, including public servants”.

The CBI has previously said it has unearthed a “deep-rooted conspiracy” in this matter.

The scam was first discovered by Rajasthan’s Anti-Terror Squad in 2017, when they arrested Mr Ranjan’s brother and others working as middlemen for gun dealers.

The then J&K government, however, protected the accused under the guise of a vigilance probe.

CommentsThe case was handed over to CBI by former Governor NN Vohra, after he found the scam was being run J&K government officers.