SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has impleaded the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a party respondent in the infamous Arms License Scam case.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice (Acting) Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta issued a notice to the CBI through its Director in New Delhi and Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh, returnable by October 15th, 2024.
The court’s decision came after Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, representing the petitioners, submitted that despite previous opportunities, the Union of India and UT Administration of J&K had failed to respond to the application seeking CBI’s impleadment. The CBI has registered two FIRs in the case, which involves several IAS/JKAS officers, and is currently investigating.
The court also directed the Registry to scan a latest Status Affidavit filed by the Union of India, which references three IAS officers allegedly involved in the scam. Additionally, the court granted further time to the GAD to file an updated Status Report regarding prosecution sanction in respect of two IAS officers.
The case has been renotified for October 15, 2024.(KNT).