CBI to probe cricket fund scam in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 3. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the multi-crore-rupee cricket fund scam allegedly involving some office bearers of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), including former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.

A division bench of Chief Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice B.L. Bhat ordered that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should carry out the probe into the scam allegedly involving some office bearers of the cricket association including its president, Farooq Abdullah.

The JKCA fund scam hit headlines in March 2012 after reports surfaced that said crores of rupees intended for promotion of the sport in the state was diverted to different accounts by JKCA office bearers with mala fide intention. Thursday's order was passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the state high court by two local cricketers - Abdul Majid Dar and Nisar Ahmad Khan.

The division bench announced the order in an open court, while the detailed order copy would be issued later in the day.
The petitioners had pleaded that investigations into the alleged fund scam by the local police would not be fair because of the political clout of the people involved. After the scam surfaced in 2012, the BCCI which funded the JKCA for promotion of cricket stopped its funding.

(IANS)