Jammu HC Orders SIT Probe in Fake Gun License Case

Jammu, Jul 16 (PTI) - The High Court in Jammu has dismissed petitions requesting the dismissal of additional FIRs related to the investigation of the fake gun license case. It also mandated a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into two cases that have been registered in the Rajouri district for over a decade. However, the court noted that this does not prevent the government from transferring these investigations to specialized agencies like the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

An FIR was initially filed on February 7, 2011, at Janipur police station in Jammu when two individuals carrying 12 bore guns were arrested. Their licenses, issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mendhar (Poonch), were found to have addresses in Kupwara, Kathua, and Budhal. Subsequently, an SIT discovered that some fake gun licenses originated from the offices of the Additional District Magistrate, Rajouri, and the SDM of Mendhar.

As a result, a docket concerning 216 gun licenses was sent to the Rajouri police station and one regarding 179 gun licenses to the Mendhar police station, leading to separate FIRs being filed in 2011. Additionally, two more FIRs were filed in Kandi and Thanamandi in the Rajouri district in 2012 and 2015, respectively.

Several accused individuals, including government officials, filed petitions to quash these four FIRs, arguing that an FIR had already been registered for the same incident at the Janipur Police Station. Justice Rajnesh Oswal, upon reviewing these petitions on July 11, dismissed them due to lack of merit, siding with Senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli, who strongly opposed the petitions.

The judge also emphasized that the FIRs registered with the Thanamandi and Kandi police stations should be investigated by the existing SIT established by the government. The high court hence directed the Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, to assign the investigation of the two FIRs to the same SIT managing the prior case at the Janipur police station.

Furthermore, the Inspector General of Police was instructed to supervise the SIT's inquiry to ensure it is completed quickly, with the final report submitted to the proper court in accordance with legal requirements.

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