J&K: Enforcement Directorate attaches assets in connection with issue of illegal arms license
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said assets worth Rs 4.69 crore have been attached under the Anti-Money Laundering Act in a case related to the issuance of alleged illegal arms licenses in Jammu and Kashmir between 2012 and 2016.
A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued for attachment of bank deposits, plots, flats and residential houses, a statement said.
Last month, after conducting raids against an IAS officer, some officers of the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) and government officials and arms dealers, the agency had said it had seized “derogatory” documents that were purportedly belonging to arms dealers and bureaucrats. Indicate transactions between. Illegal arms license in Jammu and Kashmir between 2012 and 2016.
“Government officials of J&K in connivance with several arms dealers, touts of J&K have openly flouted norms, procedure and rules for issuing arms licenses in exchange for monetary considerations by misusing their official status as Government servants. and have earned a large proceeds of crime.” The statement said.
The ED alleged that government officials used to collect “commission” from arms dealers and touts for issuing arms licenses as well as renewal of licenses of defense personnel in their own bank accounts and in the accounts of their family members.
The ED conducted searches at 11 places, including the residential premises of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers Rajeev Ranjan (former DC, Kupwara), KAS officers Itrat Hussain (former DC, Kupwara) and Ravinder Kumar Bhatt (former ADC, Kupwara). Former Judicial Clerk in Arms Section of the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kupwara, Tariq Athar and Gajan Singh.
Residential premises of six arms dealers in Jammu and Kashmir including Amarnath Bhargava (Varun Arsenal), his brother Mukesh Bhargava (Bhargava Gun House), Surjit Singh (Deshmesh Arsenal), Mohinder Kotwal (Mohinder Kotwal Arms and Ammunition), Manohar Singh (Golden) Arms and ammunition) and Devi Dayal Khajuria (Khajuria weapon) were also searched. Besides property documents, cash and gold jewelery worth over Rs 2.50 crore were seized.
“The probable proceeds of the offense are expected to be Rs 40 crore,” the ED said. The criminal case of money laundering stems from an August 2018 FIR of the CBI (Special Crime Branch, Chandigarh), where it was alleged that arms licenses were issued in Jammu and Kashmir between 2012-2016.
About 2.78 lakh arms licenses were issued to personnel of various defense and paramilitary forces in violation of prescribed guidelines and due process in exchange for “illegal” monetary consideration, which was paid to government officials/officers through arms dealers/brokers and the proceeds of the offense were generated. ED said.
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