Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR
In a major setback to state’s principal opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP),Mohammad Dilawar Mir, party’s senior leader and general secretary has been sentenced to three years by a Delhi court in a case related to wrongful release of Rs 30 lakh and contract for sale of urea to his firm by public sector National Fertilizers Limited in 1993-1996.
Special CBI Judge L K Gaur also imposed a fine of Rs 3.21 crore on Mir. Out of Mir’s fine amount, Rs 3.19 crore would be given to National fertilizers Ltd (NFL) as compensation.
“In the light of the fact that the NFL suffered a loss in 1994 of Rs 30 lakhs at the hands of the convict Mohd. Dilawar Mir, in my opinion, it would be in the interest of justice that a suitable compensation be awarded to NFL for the said loss under the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“In my view awarding the compensation to the NFL of Rs 3.19 crore, which is roughly the same as principal plus 12 per cent compoundable interest per annum with quarterly rests for twenty years. This amount would be recoverable from the fine imposed by this order,” the judge said.
Pertinently Mir was then the proprietor of M/s Good Friends Agencies which was wrongly awarded the contract for sale of urea, the court said.
The court, however, allowed his bail plea and suspended his sentence till January 2, 2015 to enable him to file an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Though Mir, a strong candidate for PDP has got bail but he will not be able to contest the forthcoming elections. Mir was set to fight upcoming polls from Rafiabad seat of North Kashmir. In 2008, Mir lost to National Conference’s Javid Dar.
While talking to Kashmir Life, PDP’s chief spokesman, Naeem Akhtar said, “If at all he is disqualified, party obviously has to look for new candidate.”
When asked about retaining party post, Akhtar was quick to add that he has heard about the verdict in the evening, and can’t comment about the future course of action. “I can’t tell you right now as it has just come.” “Law will take its own course,” he added.
