CBI Raids Multiple Locations In J&K, Delhi In Connection With Gun License Scam

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried fresh raids across Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi, including the residence of senior IAS officer Shahid Choudhary in Srinagar, in an alleged gun-licence scam case.

Simultaneous raids were carried out at 40 locations in Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri (J&K), and Delhi during which official and residential premises of current and former public servants, including an IAS officer and around 20 gun houses were searched, Deccan Herald reported.

Choudhury, who is currently Secretary Tribal Affairs and CEO Mission Youth, J&K, served as the Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, Reasi, Rajouri, and Udhampur districts, during which he allegedly issued thousands of licences under fake names.

Despite the arrest of several high-profile officials by the CBI in a fake gun licences scam, J&K still tops the list of states/UTs where arms licences with all India permission were issued from 2018 to 2020. Official data reveals that of the 22,805 fresh arms licences issued across the country between 2018 and September 15 last year, 17,905 were issued in J&K, which accounts for 78.51 per cent of the licences. In the same period a total of 94,400 arms licences with all India permission across the country, out of which, 14,172 were done in J&K.

A senior police officer said some big players were making a fortune by selling fake arms licences and supplying sophisticated weapons to businessmen, builders, and even to certain journalists based outside J&K which needs to be stopped at once, Deccan Herald reported.