Sex racket case: CBI to file charges next week

Srinagar, June 15: The CBI is likely to file charges in a local court next week against the eleven accused, including Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) K S Padhi, in the sex racket case, top agency sources said today.

They said the CBI has completed the first phase of investigations into the sex scandal which has rocked Kashmir for several weeks.

The premier investigating agency would now file the charges against the eleven accused in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, next week, the sources added.

Besides Padhi, the other accused include a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, and former state Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, who was declared as a proclaimed offender by the CJM yesterday after he failed to appear before the CBI.

As per the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the CBI today submitted a status report of the investigations into the sex racket case.

CBI counsel and Assistant Solicitor General of India Shabir Ahmed Naik submitted the status report in a closed envelope to Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani here today.

The agency has also completed the investigation and interrogation of owners of eight hotels and guest houses in compliance with the orders of a division bench, comprising Justice Kirmani and Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain, which is hearing the case.

The High Court had earlier expressed satisfaction at certain substantial steps taken by the CBI in the investigations into the sex racket case.

However, it was known as if the CBI had recorded the statements of two other girls allegedly involved in the scandal.

Giving directions on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Kashmir Bar Association (KBA), the bench had nominated Principal District Judge, Pulwama, Abdul Wahid, as a judicial officer in addition to the Principal District Judge, Anantnag, in whose presence the statements of the girls could be recorded.

The case will come up for hearing again on June 19 at 1030 hrs.

The sex racket case had been handed over to the CBI following allegations that politicians and bureaucrats, besides senior police and paramilitary officials, were involved in the scandal.

The High Court had first taken suo motu cognizance of the sex racket and then admitted the PIL filed by the KBA.

UNI