Sex racket: 2 MLAs sent to CBI custody for 4 days

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir ministers Raman Mattoo and G A Mir, arrested in connection with the sex racket case, were on Wednesday remanded to CBI custody for four days by a court here.

Mattoo, an independent MLA representing Habba Kadal constituency, and Mir, the legislator from Dooru constituency, were remanded by Chief Judicial Magistrate M Y Akhoon to CBI custody till June 24.

While Mattoo was arrested by the CBI from his Srinagar residence, Mir was nabbed from the Jammu and Kashmir House in New Delhi. They were booked under the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act for allegedly procuring persons for prostitution.

The two, if convicted, will have to undergo three months imprisonment or pay a fine of Rs 20,000 or both. Both Mir and Mattoo were ministers in the former government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

Akhoon also extended the judicial remand of three other persons arrested in connection with the sex racket.

The remand of alleged kingpin Sabeena was extended by seven days, while Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ashraf Mir and Shabir Ahmad Langu were remanded for 14 days.

Meanwhile, the bail application of BSF Deputy Inspector General K S Padhi, also arrested in the case, was deferred till June 23. Padhi moved the bail application in person through the superintendent of Srinagar central jail.