J&K revenue secretary to become first IAS officer to face trial in ‘gun licence scam’

On November 25, a Division Bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M.A. Chowdhary had expressed displeasure over “selective prosecution” in the case, observing that while the CBI had already concluded its investigation, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had yet to sanction their prosecution.

Significantly, the prosecution sanction is necessary to prosecute public servants such as IAS officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In particular, the Bench had also referred to the case of Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, formerly the Kupwara district magistrate, against whom CBI had registered a case on October 16, 2018.

Earlier this year, Ranjan, father Kripa Shankar Roy, and brother Jyoti Ranjan, were among nearly two dozen people — including serving and retired government officials, gun dealers and middle men — against whom Enforcement Directorate filed a complaint for prosecution in the Court of Special Judge for CBI Cases on charges of money laundering.

In its prosecution complaint, the ED had said that the accused had directly hampered the security of the state, and sought action against them under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 and confiscation of their moveable and immoveable properties.

“The proximity of Jammu and Kashmir from the borders with the neighbouring nations, coupled with the issuance of arms licenses in violation of the laid down rules and regulations evidences the fact that not only wrongful gains have been made by the accused, but their actions have directly hampered the security of the state, as such licenses were in certain instances used for illegal purchase/issuance of arms as well,’’ the ED has said in its complaint.