Srinagar: National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah is on the backfoot in the Jammu and Kashmir cricket scam after CNN-IBN accessed a bank letter that exposed his claim that he had no knowledge of what was happening.
The opposition in Jammu and Kashmir is on the offensive too, alleging Farooq Abdullah was the main benefactor of the multi-crore scam.
An indignant Abdullah has rubbished allegations that he is involved in the scam, but the bank letter links him to it.
The letter written by a branch head of Jammu and Kashmir Bank indicates that Abdullah recommended a loan of Rs 1.90 crore to close aide and former Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association general secretary Ahsan Mirza.
Mirza was provided a loan against two fixed deposits he had raised against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) money that was diverted into a bogus account.
Abdullah insists that the transaction was above board.
"The association had to take interest free loan of Rs 1.91 crore for work. This money was paid back," said Abdullah.
However, his point person and JKCA chairman Aslam Goni admits bogus accounts were opened to siphon of BCCI funds. BCCI money to the tune of Rs 30 crore, meant for cricket promotion in the state, was allegedly laundered through these accounts.
Abdullah’s point person and JKCA chairman Goni said, "Yes there are bogus accounts and we are investigating."
In Jammu, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PPP) waved the bank letter in the Assembly, calling Abdullah the main benefactor of the scam. They allege the two sacked JKCA officials, Ahsan Mirza and Saleem Khan, are being made scapegoats.
"If the UPA can go against Suresh Kalmadi what is stopping them from filing FIR against Farooq Abdullah," asked PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
As of now, both police and the Jammu and Kashmir Bank have launched probes.
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