CBI chargesheets 7 accused in sex racket case

SRINAGAR: The CBI on Monday filed chargesheets against seven persons, including two former Jammu and Kashmir ministers, arrested in connection with the sex racket case.

Srinagar Chief Judicial Magistrate M Y Akhoon set August 5 as the next date in the case after the CBI filed the chargesheet, codified copies of which would be provided to the accused to ensure safety of the victims and witnesses.

Former ministers G A Mir, Raman Mattoo, senior IAS officer M Iqbal Khanday, Deputy Superintendent of Police M Yousuf Mir, hotel manager Riyaz Kawa, suspected kingpin of the racket Sabeena and her husband A Hamid Bulla have been charged under various sections of the Immoral Trafficking Act.

The sections of act invoked deal with procuring of girls for prostitution.

The CBI filed the chargesheet before a duty magistrate on Saturday but was directed by the judge to present it before the CJM, the designated authority, who was not present in the court on as he was attending the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Nine persons including Sabeena, Bulla, former Additional Advocate-General Anil Sethi, DIG BSF K C Padhi and Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ashraf Mir have already been chargesheeted by the investigating agency in the designated court under Section 376 of Ranbir Panel Code for raping a minor girl.

So far, 14 have been arrested in connection with the case.