National Conference president Farooq Abdullah received support from an unexpected quarter on Wednesday, with his arch rival, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, questioning his interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate.
“JK cricket scam is an old case that’s been underinvestigation for quite some time,” Mufti posted on Twitter. “EDquestioning Farooq sahab at a time when J&K mainstream parties are collectivelystanding up to protect its unique identity raises suspicions &questions.”
The Peoples Democratic Party president alleged that centralagencies were being used to harass and intimidate those who dissent or do notfall in line, adding that it had become “brazen”.
Mufti’s reaction come after the ED questioned Abdullahearlier in the day in connection with a money-laundering case regarding allegedfinancial irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).
Abdullah appeared before the central agency at itsChandigarh office and his statement was being recorded under the Prevention ofMoney Laundering Act.
The CBI has charged Abdullah and three others — then JKCAgeneral secretary Md Saleem Khan, then treasurer Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, and J&KBank executive Bashir Ahmad Misgar — under sections of the Ranbir Penal Coderelated to criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
The charge sheet was filed in July last year against themfor allegedly misappropriating over Rs 43 crore from grants given by the Boardof Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to the JKCA for promoting the sport inthe state between 2002-11.It had taken over the case from the state policein 2015 on orders of a division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.Abdullah and his son, Omar Abdullah, have earlier denied any wrongdoing.