Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 20: The former chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, was today questioned by Crime Branch sleuths at Crime Branch headquarters, Raj Bagh, Srinagar for several hours.
The Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Crime Branch, Syed Javed Mujtaba Gilani, told Excelsior that Peer was picked up by Crime Branch for questioning this morning and let off in the evening.
Peer was this morning brought to Crime Branch Headquarters for questioning regarding Common Entrance Test (CET)-2012 scam from his residence at Hazratbal area of Srinagar. Sources said that he may be questioned for several days.
The former BOPEE chairman was questioned for several hours regarding the CET-2012 during which he had established a paid examination centre for around 30 students at a local hotel in Srinagar to facilitate their admission in various professional colleges especially Medical Colleges of the State.
Earlier, two days ago Peer’s residences were raided at Srinagar and Jammu and documents regarding his immovable property were recovered. Raids were conducted after Crime Branch established that he is the main accused in the scam.
The Crime Branch probe into the case started after a written complaint was received earlier this year that 12 candidates had qualified through the CET 2012 exam by purchasing the question papers from a syndicate that included some officials who were close to the then BOPEE chairman.
According to the complaint, the said 12 candidates benefited from the scam and found admission at Medical Colleges in the State.
Source said around 30 candidates had paid around Rs 40-50 lakh per candidate to Peer for establishing a special centre for them. However, so far Crime Branch has only established 12 candidates who had paid money for getting admission in MBBS.
Crime Branch is still trying to lay hands on the other candidates but they have not so far got any concrete evidences against them. “We don’t want any innocent should be harassed. We will act after we get concrete evidence against them”, said an officer.
Sources said that during past one year Peer has purchased property worth crores of rupees. “He has purchased one house in Jammu, two flats in New Delhi and 12 kanals of prime land worth crores of rupees on Boulevard in Srinagar”, sources said.
Crime Branch during investigations went through the academic records of the candidates who were under scanner and property details of their parents and sales if any they had conducted last year and the bank accounts.
The students who are under scanner include Shahida Shafi of Awantipora, Bazila Bilal of Bijbehara, Shafeeq-ul-Rehman Lone of Bijbehara, Khurshid Ahmed Dar of Bijbehara and Mir Wajid Majid of Kokernag.
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