The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for questioning on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case. The 86-year-old Member of Parliament from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was charge-sheeted by the federal agency in 2022, and the summons requires him to appear at the ED office in Srinagar, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is believed to be summoned in relation to the ED’s ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). The case revolves around the siphoning off of funds from the JKCA, involving transfers to various personal bank accounts of unrelated parties, including JKCA office bearers. Additionally, the investigation focuses on unexplained cash withdrawals from JKCA bank accounts.
The ED’s case is rooted in a 2018 charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the same accused individuals. The agency alleges that the misappropriation of funds from the JKCA took place through questionable transfers and withdrawals, leading to the initiation of investigations by both the CBI and the ED.
In 2020, the CBI filed a charge sheet naming Farooq Abdullah, Mohammed Saleem Khan, former treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, Mir Manzoor Gazanffer Ali, Bashir Ahmad Misgar, and Gulzar Ahmad Beigh (former accountant of JKCA) for the misappropriation of JKCA funds totaling ₹43.69 crore. These funds were granted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to promote the sport in the state between the years 2002 and 2011.
According to the ED, its probe revealed that JKCA received ₹94.06 crore from the BCCI in three different bank accounts during the financial years 2005–2006 to 2011–2012, up to December 2011. The agency claims that in 2004, Mukhtar Kanth, the duly elected Treasurer at the time, resigned, and Farooq Abdullah immediately appointed Mirza as the Treasurer of JKCA without holding elections, contravening the JKCA Rules of 1957.
The allegations suggest a pattern of financial irregularities within the JKCA, leading to the misappropriation of funds meant for the development and promotion of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. The ED’s summons to Farooq Abdullah indicates the agency’s intent to delve deeper into the role of the former chief minister in these financial transactions.
It is noteworthy that the ED’s investigation is an extension of the CBI’s findings, indicating collaboration between the two federal agencies. The ED’s focus on money laundering adds another layer to the probe, exploring potential financial misconduct and illicit transfers related to the misused funds.
Farooq Abdullah, a prominent political figure in Jammu and Kashmir, has yet to respond publicly to the summons. The developments in this case will undoubtedly be closely monitored, given its political and financial implications in the region. As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the extent of the alleged financial irregularities within the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and the involvement of key figures in the misappropriation of funds.
