PDP rejects CBI clean chit to Omar in sex scandal case

Opposition PDP today rejected the clean chit given by CBI to Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah in the infamous 2006 sex scandal case and demanded a judicial probe into the issue.

The demand was made by PDP members in the state assembly when speaker MA Lone told the House that "we have received a clarification from the CBI that Omar Abdullah's name does not figure in the list of accused in the case". Omar was not present in the assembly.

Earlier, CBI in a communication to the speaker said, "This is clarified that nine chargesheets in the CBI case were filed in the competent court against 17 accused persons. The name of Omar Abdullah, son of Farooq Abdullah, does not figure in the list of the accused persons who were chargesheeted in the case."

The speaker tabled the CBI letter in the House. However, agitated PDP members led by their chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the CBI was trying to cover up the
serious matter to save some bigwigs.

Mufti, who tore a copy of the CBI letter, said, "We demand a judicial probe into the allegations. The CBI probe is not acceptable".

After the PDP claimed yesterday that Omar's name figured in the case, the National Conference leader met the governor NN Vohra and submitted his resignation. Omar, who was asked to continue in office, had demanded an inquiry into the issue as he wanted his name to be cleared.

PDP members also raised slogans in the House. The speaker tried to cool tempers and allowed PDP deputy leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh to speak but he was shouted down by ruling NC members who moved a privilege motion against Beigh and Mufti.

NC members said since the privilege motion is pending with the speaker, Beigh could not be given a chance to speak. As the uproar continued, the speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Omar, who had tendered his resignation, said the governor should institute an inquiry on a time-bound basis into the allegations made against his moral character by Beigh in the assembly.

Vohra had asked Omar to continue to discharge his responsibilities "till a final decision is taken".

Replying to questions on the allegation made by him, Beigh later said, "I did not say he (Omar) was an accused because the accused people have been chargesheeted."

"I had said on the floor of the House that the first list of the accused was chargesheeted but the High Court was not satisfied with it and they had said that there are other politicians and cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials against whom there is a need for further investigation and they ordered CBI to conduct further investigation.

"This order was passed on October 8, 2007. Nothing has been done so far. All I said was that you follow the directions of the High Court and conduct further investigations into the list of the people who are suspects," Beigh said.

His party leader Mufti said that the high court judgement had stated that once the names of politicians started coming up in the list of suspects, the CBI had been dragging its feet.

"That is what has been happening for the last one year...We had said not only Omar Abdullah there are other people also. But because of Omar Abdullah and maybe because of Farooq Abdullah other people also got a lease of life," she alleged.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah said, "that the PDP had just one objective and that was to create chaos.

"They do not want development in Kashmir nor do they want people happy and settled there. On the first day (in the assembly) they had attacked the speaker and on the second day the chief minister. They don't have any other work," he said.