JKCA scam case: Non-bailable warrant against Farooq Abdullah
Srinagar: A local court on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against former chief minister Farooq Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Tabassum issued the warrants even as Abdullah failed to appear in court either in person or online.
The magistrate also rejected Abdullah’s plea seeking an exemption from appearance before the court.
The court also rejected an exemption application of another accused, Manzoor Gazanfar Ali, and ordered a non-bailable warrant against him too.
“In case any of the accused fails to appear before the court, appropriate orders shall follow,” the court added.
The matter has been posted for March 30.
Notably, Abdullah did not appear before the court, and his counsel sought exemption citing his inability to attend the proceedings. The court noted that the defence declined the option of ensuring his presence through virtual mode and subsequently ordered issuance of the non-bailable warrant.
The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in JKCA during Abdullah’s tenure as its president. The CBI, which took over the investigation in 2015 following directions from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, filed a chargesheet in 2018 alleging that over ₹43 crore meant for cricket development in J&K was misappropriated between 2002 and 2011.
The funds were part of grants exceeding ₹100 crore released by the BCCI for cricket development in the region. Abdullah has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.
