‘Out of frying pan into the fire’ for detained Kashmiri leaders?

SRINAGAR: For many mainstream political leaders presently under detention in Jammu and Kashmir, it could well be an 'out of the frying pan into the fire' situation. The UT administration, headed by Lieutenant Governor G.C. Marmu, is weighing options to release most of them before the end of January. But highly placed sources told IANS that many of these detained politicians, who have held important portfolios as ministers in the past state governments, are likely to be picked up by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) 'for causing huge losses to the exchequer through fraudulent work allotments, swindling of huge government subsidies and also for gross abuse and misuse of official position that literally amounted to loot and plunder of government funds'.

It may be recalled that Sheikh Imran, the former mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, was picked up by the sleuths of the ACB immediately after he was released from detention last week.

Imran has been accused of inflating bills and invoices in one of his business units for which he obtained huge subsidies from the government for an investment he had never made. Some officials of the State industries department, who allegedly helped Imran to claim subsidies, are also going to be booked along with him, sources added. There are still 29 political leaders of mainstream parties who are under detention inside the MLA hostel in Srinagar that has been declared as a sub-jail. Three former Chief Ministers, Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti also continue to remain under detention since August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated. (IANS)

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