Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 19: The High Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit the status of investigation carried out till date in multi-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought recovery of embezzled amount so that it can be utilized for cricketing activities.
It is for the first time after the judgment in the matter way back in 2015, the Division Bench of Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed for status of investigation in an application filed by CBI seeking six more months time for carrying the investigation. However, BCCI as well as State Counsel opposed the request of CBI with the submission that sufficient time has been already granted to the agency by the Court.
The BCCI counsel submitted before the bench that he has no objection for extension of time but it should be last and final as the judgment in the matter has been passed in September 2015 and since then three extension applications have been filed by the agency for extension of time for carrying out the investigation.
He further submitted that till the investigation is concluded the amount which has been embezzled may be recovered. Court observed since the investigation is yet to be completed, the recovery may also be done at proper time.
State Counsel also opposed the application of CBI and without referring the name of anyone submitted that big-wigs are involved in the matter, which has also been culminated in the final judgment as such State also wants the investigation be completed as early as possible. “If CBI needs any cooperation from us we are ready to extend that”, State counsel said.
CBI counsel informed the Court that the agency is carrying the investigation properly and various records pertaining to the case have been collected as also the statement of various persons have been recorded therefore, further time is sought to conclude the investigation.
While giving the latest progress of the investigation till date, CBI stated that 360 documents have been collected so far from various offices including Police, Auditors of JKCA, BCCI having its office in Mumbai, HDFC Bank Mohali Punjab, ICICI Bank Chennai and different branches of J&K Bank located in Srinagar and Jammu.
It has also been submitted in application that so far 68 persons have been examined by the agency which include office bearers of BCCI, JKCA and some private persons.
CBI, in its earlier part of investigation, has already informed the Court that Rs 112 crore and 33 lakhs have been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKAC) from BCCI during April 2002 to December 2011.
“Since some vital records of the case was damaged in 2014 floods, as such, CBI has prepared the money flow charts reflecting the remittance from BCCI and ultimate utilization of the same at JKCA with the assistance of a chartered accountant firm”, read the application.
CBI in the present application revealed that huge amounts have been transferred from the accounts of JKCA to the accounts of former office bearers of JKCA and other individuals who were having no connections with the JKCA during the relevant period.
During the investigation, CBI submitted, it has surfaced that modus operandi of the suspects for siphoning of funds of JKCA was to get issued cash credit certificates against remittances received from BCCI and avail the loans and thereafter get the loan accounts closed in order to misappropriate the loan proceeds in question.
“The evidence regarding siphoning of JKCA funds by officer bearers of association has been collected and the same are being scrutinized and synchronized”, CBI said.
It may be mentioned here that High Court in September 2015 had handed the investigation of the JKCA scam to CBI and had directed it to conclude the investigations within a period of six months.
The PIL was filed by two former Ranji Trophy players seeking constitution of SIT to probe in the scam wherein as per their contentions besides other members of the Association former Chief Minister of the State Dr Farooq Abdullah is also involved.
Giving the reason for extending the time for investigation, CBI said that investigation could not be carried out in the State due to prevailing law and order situation and besides investigations have to be carried out in Maharashtra, UP and Rajasthan.
CBI, in the present application, further informed the court that multiple bank accounts of different individuals in which JKCA funds had been transferred have been spotted and reason for transfer of funds need to be further investigated.
“Details of the funds transferred from BCCI to Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association during April 2002 to 21 December, 2011 have been collected from the BCCI, Mumbai as per the information furnished by the BCCI, it had transferred a total amount of Rs 1,12,33,04,618 to JKCA from April 2002 to December 31, 2011”, mentioned the application of CBI.
As per the court direction, CBI was supposed to complete the investigation initially in the matter within 6 months preferably which could not be done and thereafter further time was sought by CBI and Court granted two months which expires on September last year and now the agency has again moved application for extension of time.
CBI till date has revealed that the bank accounts clandestinely opened and operated by the office bearers of JKCA for siphoning off funds of JKCA have been traced and money flow chart in this connection has been prepared and concerned persons are examined.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel