JOIN USJKCA scam: Enforcement Directorate attaches Farooq Abdullah’s properties worth Rs 11.86 crore
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached property worth Rs 11.86 crore belonging to National Conference (NC) president and former chief of minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, in connection with alleged money laundering case in J&K Cricket Association (JKCA).
A spokesperson of the ED said, the probe agency has attached three houses and a commercial building belonging to octogenarian Abdullah in Srinagar, Baramulla and Jammu under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Besides, houses and commercial building, land belonging to Abdullah, has also been attached at four places in J&K.
“During the investigations it is disclosed that out of the aforesaid attached properties the residence and land of Farooq Abdullah at Gupkar Road (Srinagar) and commercial buildings at Residency Road (Srinagar) are basically State lands obtained on lease,” he said.
The ED also disclosed that the attached house at Bhatindi, in Jammu had been constructed by Abdullah on State land and Forest land. While the book value of these attached properties is Rs 11.86 crore, their market value stated to be about Rs 60-70 crore, sources told DH.
The ED statement said that from 2005 to 2011, the JKCA received Rs. 109.78 crore from the BCCI. “Between 2006 to 2012, when Abdullah was the President of the JKCA, he misused his position and clout by illegal appointments of office bearer to whom he gave financial powers for the purpose of laundering of the JKCA funds. Investigation clearly brings out that Abdullah was instrumental as well as beneficiary of the laundered funds of the JKCA,” the ED probe reveals.
It has also come to the fore during the investigation that despite existing regular bank account of the JKCA, six new bank accounts were opened for parking of the funds and siphoning of the same, the statement reads. One dormant bank account in the name of Kashmir wing of the JKCA was also made operational for the same purpose.
The ED probe has revealed JKCA funds to the tune of more than Rs 45 crores has been siphoned, which includes heavy cash withdrawals of around Rs 25 crores, "with no corresponding justification."
“Investigations disclose that for the purpose of generation of proceeds of crime, the funds were layered by way of complex interbank transfers in all the bank accounts of the JKCA and also by transfer to several personal bank accounts, followed by siphoning of the funds,” it added.
On October 19 Abdullah, who represents Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the Parliament, was questioned by the ED for seven hours in the case. Two days later he was again summoned by the probe agency and questioned him about his role and decisions taken when the alleged scam took place.
Last July, Abdullah was also questioned by the agency, days before the Centre’s August 5 decision to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had in 2018 filed a charge sheet against the NC president, and three of his associates, for alleged misappropriation of funds.