A local court has directed the investigating agencies to frame charges against National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and other accused in the alleged multi-crore scam involving the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
In a five-page order passed earlier this week, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Tabasum, directed that the matter be listed on March 12, 2026, for the framing of charges. The court observed, “List the main file on 12/03/2026 for framing of charges. After that and the statement of approvers, i.e., accused no. 3 and 6, shall be recorded as evidence, and in case they resile from their stand, appropriate orders shall follow.”
However, the court rejected an application by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking to be made a party in the case.
The court ruled, “Given the facts and circumstances of the case, provisions of law and judicial precedents, the ED cannot be made a party in a case which is investigated, filed and prosecuted by the CBI and where no scheduled offence is disclosed in the charge sheet by the CBI.”
"Therefore, the applicant has no locus standi as per the law to seek the addition of charges in the present case. As such, the instant application on behalf of the ED is not maintainable,” the court said.
The order added that in some places, the applicant sought the addition of Sections 411 & 414 of the IPC by exercising powers under Section 216 of the CrPC, but the applicant has overlooked that those sections have been non-existent since 01/07/2024.
"In the instant case, the CBI, which is the main investigating and prosecuting agency, did not incorporate any scheduled offence in the charge-sheet,” the order read.
On the question of framing charges, the court held that all essential ingredients of the offences under Sections 120-B, 406 and 409 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) were prima facie made out against the accused. “Therefore, the accused persons shall be charged for the commission of the said offences.”
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