MHA seeks more time to decide on prosecution sanction in arms licences scam

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought more time to take a decision on the sanction for prosecution of IAS officers allegedly involved in the much publicised arms licences scam.

The MHA filed a fresh affidavit in the case with the High Court of J&K and Ladakh. The affidavit before the Jammu Wing of the HC in PIL titled ‘Sheikh Mohd. Shafi & Anr. V/s Union of India & Anr.’ has divulged that pursuant to Division Bench order dated August 7 this year, the MHA convened a meeting with officials of the J&K government and the CBI to discuss the CBI’s proposal for grant of sanction for prosecution against the IAS officers named in the FIR filed by the agency.

The submissions of the J&K government and CBI in the meeting were taken into cognizance and after examining the overall facts of the case, it was decided by the MHA to seek certain clarifications from the CBI/J&K Administration to enable the MHA to take a decision regarding grant of sanction of prosecution or otherwise against the accused officers.

The affidavit further discloses that the MHA has accordingly flashed letters dated September 1 thereby seeking clarifications from the CBI and the J&K administration and in response the J&K government forwarded their comments. However, response from the CBI is awaited. The affidavit further says that after receiving the comments of CBI, the proposal will be examined and an appropriate decision will be taken.

Advocate SS Ahmed with advocate Supriya Chouhan appeared for the petitioner whereas Senior AAG Mohsin S. Qadri with assisting counsel Maha Majeed appeared for Govt. of J&K.