CBI begins probe into Kashmir sex scandal

Srinagar, May 11 (UNI) The CBI today began its probe into the sex racket case, allegedly involving top politicians, senior civil, police and security officials besides businessmen as protests over the scandal continue to rock the Valley.

A 12-member CBI team, headed by a Deputy Inspector General, arrived here today to probe the matter.

The CBI team took into possession all the records and documents related to the sex abuse case from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, sources said.

The team also met Director General of Police (DGP) Gopal Sharma, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir K Rajendra and Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Shaheed Gunj Police Station, Javed Koul, who had investigated the matter and prepared a preliminary report, which was later leaked to the media.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, on May one, decided to transfer the alleged sex racket case to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) for a thorough probe into the scandal.

The directions came after Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig wrote a letter to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, seeking a CBI or a judicial probe into the alleged scandal considering the senstivity of the issue.

''This would also dispell any apprehension of cover-up by the police or the investigating agency. I believe this will inspire confidence in the inquiry process and also help the image of the government,'' Mr Baig had said in the letter, pointing out that certain top politicians and high-ranking police officials were allegedly involved in the sex racket.

Police had busted a major sex racket here recently which came to light following a complaint by residents of a downtown locality here about a pornographic CD featuring local girls and Sabeena, the kingpin, was accused of luring and blackmailing minor girls into prostitution.

The police then arrested several people in this connection a few days ago. Some top politicians, businessmen besides senior security force and police officials were allegedly involved in the flesh trade racket, allegedly run by Sabeena, in which more than 40 girls were believed to have been used for making pornographic films.

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