Mir and Mattoo arrested in sex racket case

Srinagar, June 20 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Ministers Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Raman Mattoo were arrested this morning by the CBI in connection with the recently unearthed sex scandal case.

CBI sources said while Mattoo, former Jammu and Kashmir minister for industries and commerce, was arrested from his residence at Gupkar here, Mir, former Jammu and Kashmir minister for roads and buildings, was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir House in Chanakya Puri in New Delhi.

Mir will be brought to Srinagar this afternoon, they added.

Both the former ministers will be subjected to a Test Identification Parade (TIP) by a minor who had alleged the two had raped her.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court will again hear the case today, which has rocked Kashmir for several weeks.

The CBI is likely to file charges in a local court here in the coming few days against the eleven accused, including Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) K S Padhi, a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mohammad Ashraf Mir and former state Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi, who has been declared a proclaimed offender, according to sources.

The top investigating agency has also announced a reward of Rs two lakh to anyone giving information on the absconding Sethi.

Several places had been raided in Jammu and Kashmir to track him.

The CBI had sought his appearance for conducting an identification parade.

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

The High Court had first taken a suo motu cognisance of the case and then admitted the PIL filed by the Kashmir Bar Association.

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