Srinagar, Oct 8 (IVNN): The infamous Kashmir sex scandal took a new turn on Monday as a division bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to place all the material regarding eight new accused – including transport minister Hakim Muhammad Yasin, former PDP minister Ghulam Hassan Khan and Congress MLA Yogesh Sawhney besides three senior police officers – before Chief Judical Magistrate within six weeks for further course of action.

The division bench, comprising Justice BA Kirmani and Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, empowered the CJM to consider the evidence collected by the CBI during the investigation for taking cognizance of the offences as may appear to be made out.

The high profile names of transport minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, MLA Yogesh Sawhney, Ghulam Hassan Khan, Nissar Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Naik, SSP Ashkoor Wani, SSP Sheikh Mehmood and DIG Niyaz Mehmood figured in the investigation report produced by the CBI before the court.

A Local news agency, News Agency of Kashmir,reported that the court in its order has deducted some short comings in the investigation conducted by the CBI and issued further directions in this regard. It was observed that the no efforts has been made by the investigation agency to locate and get hold of the retired SP Jitnder Misri, conduct of former Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi and one Vijay – against whom allegations of rape were leveled by Gulshan alias Gypsy at the residence of the then minister Raman Mattoo.

The court further observed that no efforts have been made to trace out Chain Singh, mentioned by the CBI in connection with Municipal Councilor Manju. “No efforts does also appear to have been made to identify the `Gora Chitta commissioner’, who allegedly had sex with minor Yasmeen in an official hut at Chesma Shahi though all these aspects are integral to the logical conclusions of the case”, the court observed further.

In its order, the court further directed the CBI to conduct further speedy and focused investigation in cases of Muhammad Yousaf Khan, former Chairman JK Bank, Raj Tikoo, the then vigilance commissioner and Zahoor Ahmed Malik.

“The CBI shall also conduct fresh investigation in respect of those persons named by Sabina or any of the involved girls as mentioned in various status, action reports by them against whom no action has been taken due to reported insufficient materials”, the court observed.

Observing that CBI had not interrogated certain persons "visibly" involved in the sex racket case, the HC asked the investigating agency to establish the identity of the Gora Chitta Commissioner and further conduct `lawful interrogation of Sabeena, DySP MY Mirza, Shazia/Azra and Muzaffer Handoo along with the councilor Manju.

The Director General of Police was directed to constitute a special team of police officers with reputed integrity to be headed by a DIG for exclusively dealing with the cases of illicit sex traffic and drug trade in whatever form and cases relating to drug abuse. He was also directed to provide security to all the persons named in the investigation including the victims.

Expressing surprise over the way CBI conducted the investigations with regard to certain persons named by the victims, the bench said CBI should investigate the two cases registered at police station Magam (2005) in Budgam district and Maharaj Gunj (2004) here without any further delay.

The infamous sex racket, involving some high profile persons of the state, surfaced in March last year. The investigation of the case, which followed mass protests demonstration across the state against the sex exploitation of innocent Kashmiri girls, was handed over to the CBI which produced the challan against eighteen persons including former ministers Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Raman Matto, senior IAS officer Iqbal Khanday, DIG BSF K C Padhi, Two Dy SPs of state police and the alleged kingpin of the scandal Sabeena. The accused were facing trail in connection with the case at a Chandigarh court.

The court also directed that action be taken within two weeks against the hotels and guesthouses, which were used for sexploitation of the girls, under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.


HC directives to CBI

• Produce report against Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, MLA Yogesh Sawhney, Ghulam Hassan Khan, Nissar Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Naik, SSP Ashkoor Wani, SSP Sheikh Mehmood and DIG Niyaz Mehmood before CJM Srinagar.
• Locate retired SP Jitnder Misri, conduit of former Additional Advocate General Anil Sethi and one Vijay.
• Trace out Chain Singh.
• Identity the Gora Chitta commissioner.
• Speedy and focused investigation in cases of Muhammad Yousaf Khan, former Chairman JK Bank, Raj Tikoo, the then vigilance commissioner and Zahoor Ahmed Malik.
• Conduct lawful interrogation of Sabeena, DySP MY Mirza, Shazia/Azra and Muzaffar Handoo along with the councilor Manju.(IVNN)