Kashmir Court Finds Prima Facie Case Against Farooq Abdullah in JKCA Case, Orders Framing of Charges | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A court in Srinagar has held that sufficient material exists to proceed against Farooq Abdullah and other accused in the alleged multi-crore funds irregularities case linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), directing that charges be framed against them.

In an order dated March 2, 2026, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Tabasum observed that the material on record discloses prima facie offences of criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The court held that the essential ingredients of offences under Sections 120-B, 406 and 409 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) are made out against the accused.

Besides Abdullah, the accused include former JKCA general secretary Mohammad Saleem Khan, former treasurer Ahsan Mirza, Manzoor Gazanfar Ali, Gulzar Ahmad Beigh and former Jammu and Kashmir Bank executive Bashir Ahmad Misgar.

The case concerns alleged financial irregularities and the misappropriation of funds in the cricket body’s affairs. Two accused in the case have already been granted pardon and turned approvers during the trial.

The court also dismissed an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking the addition of further offences under Sections 411 and 424 RPC. The court held that the ED had no locus standi to seek addition of charges in a case investigated and prosecuted by another agency, noting that the probe and prosecution in the matter are being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Observing that the ED’s jurisdiction arises only when a predicate offence exists, and proceeds of crime are generated from such an offence, the court said the agency cannot assume the commission of a scheduled offence on its own under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

“The predicate offence is like a ship and the ED’s powers under PMLA akin to a limpet mine; without the ship, the limpet cannot function,” the court said while dismissing the application as misconceived and vague.

Rejecting the pleas seeking discharge, the court held that sufficient material exists to proceed against the accused and directed that charges be framed under Sections 120-B, 406 and 409 RPC.

The matter has been listed for framing of charges next week. The court said that after the charges are framed, the statements of approvers Gazanfar Ali and Gulzar Ahmad Beigh will be recorded as evidence, adding that appropriate orders would follow if they resile from their earlier stand.