NC dismisses ED attaching Farooq Abdullah's properties as 'vendetta'; links to DDC polls

On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has termed the attachment of its chief Farooq Abdullah’s properties by ED as "political vendetta meant to settle a political score." In a joint statement party leadership, including GS Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Singh Rana, senior leaders Mohammad Shafi Uri, AR Rather, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf, Mubarak Gul, party MPs Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi, SS Salathia, Ajay Sadhotra, Qamar Ali Akhoon lambasted the series of attacks on the party leadership.

'Unwarranted and unjustified move': NC

Calling EDs targeting of Farooq Abdullah, the leaders said such acts were "unwarranted and unjustified." "There is no evidence worth the name on record to justify the order of attachment of the property. These ancestral assets had been acquired decades back, and there is no justification why these should be attached. It is nothing except political vendetta and an attempt to silence the leadership and dissuade it from voicing support to political aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The list of properties includes two ancestral properties in which Dr Farooq has a minor share. It reveals the desperation of the BJP which is using its agencies to settle political scores," the NC statement said.

The leaders also added, "The sudden move against Farooq has been taken to divert attention from the ground that BJP seems to be losing in J&K. It’s not a coincidence that the BJP ordered this action on the day the DDC polls ended because they know how badly they have fared and are now exacting their revenge in advance of the drubbing they will receive at the hands of people of J&K."

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Omar Abdullah reacts to ED's action

Reacting to this development, NC vice president Omar Abdullah claimed that his father had not received any official notice or documentation regarding the seizure of properties. Mentioning that the attached properties are "largely ancestral" dating from the 1970s with the most recent one built before 2003, he contended that they could not be classified as "proceeds of crime". Terming the ED's charges as "baseless", he asserted that Farooq Abdullah is in touch with his lawyers. 

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ED attaches Farooq Abdullah's property

On Saturday, the ED attached properties of ex-J&K CM Farooq Abdullah in connection with the alleged laundering of Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association funds. The attached properties worth Rs.11.86 crore include residential houses at Gupkar Road, Katipora and Sunjwan, commercial buildings in the Residency Road area of Srinagar and land at 4 different places in the Union Territory. As per the investigative agency, over Rs. 45 crore out of the JKCA funds was siphoned including cash withdrawals of Rs.25 crore. 

The ED alleged that 6 new bank accounts and a dormant bank account in the name of the Kashmir Wing of JKCA were used for parking of funds and siphoning of the same. It has accused the NC chief of misusing his position as the JKCA president to facilitate the laundering of funds. Moreover, the ED claimed that he was a beneficiary of the laundered money. 

"Between years 2005 – 2006 to December 2011, JKCA received funding totaling to Rs. 109.78 crore from BCCI. Between years 2006 to January 2012, when Dr. Farooq Abdullah was the President of JKCA, he misused his position and clout by illegal appointments of office bearer at JKCA to whom he gave financial powers for the purpose of laundering of JKCA Funds. Investigation clearly brings out that Dr. Farooq Abdullah was instrumental as well as beneficiary of the laundered funds of JKCA," ED alleged in a statement.

It added, "Despite existing regular bank account of JKCA, six new bank accounts were opened for parking of JKCA Funds and siphoning of the same. One dormant bank account in the name of Kashmir Wing of JKCA was also made operational for the same purpose."

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