Srinagar, Dec 31: The Centre has accorded sanction for the prosecution of Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, an IAS officer of an erstwhile cadre of Jammu & Kashmir, in the infamous arms license scam.
In a communique, the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel & Training, Government has conveyed to Vishal Sharma, Deputy Solicitor General of India, that it has accorded sanction for the prosecution of Kumar Rajeev Ranjan in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2018.
“I am directed to refer to your email dated 23.12. 2024 on the subject mentioned above and to say that an order, conveying a grant of sanction against Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, IAS, in CBI RCCHGO51201850007, under section 6 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006(1949 A.D)for alleged offenses under section 5(2) PC Act, 2006(1949 A.D.) has already been issued on 28. 11. 2004 with the approval of the competent authority,” reads the communique.
It is worthwhile to mention that a huge arms license scam involving deputy magistrates of Jammu & Kashmir was unearthed by the Rajasthan ATS in 2017.
The case was being probed by the J&K Police before then Governor NN Vohra handed over it to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The investigation revealed that arms licenses in bulk were issued by the then deputy magistrates in J&K to non-residents on forged documents.
Between 2012 and 2016, deputy commissioners of various districts in J&K had fraudulently and illegally issued bulk arms licenses instead of monetary consideration, the probe found. (With KNO inputs)