J&K sex scandal: 2 former ministers arrested

Cracking its whip on the political establishment in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday arrested two former ministers, which include Congress legislator Ghulam Ahmed Mir in connection with their alleged involvement in the sex scandal.

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The CBI arrested Mir from Jammu and Kashmir House in Chankyapuri, New Delhi while Raman Mattoo -- an Independent legislator -- was arrested in Srinagar, the CBI sources said in New Delhi.

The decision to arrest them was taken after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday asked the investigating agency to start taking 'concrete action' on the statement of Sabeena, the alleged kingpin in the case.

Both legislators have been booked under Section 5 of the Immoral Trafficing (Prevention) Act for procuring persons for prostitution. Under this Section, the two, if convicted, will have to undergo three months imprisonment or pay a fine of Rs 20,000 or both.

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Immediately after their arrest, the CBI informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly speaker Tara Chand about the development.

The sleuths from CBI's Special Crime unit arrived at the J&K House in New Delhi early Tuesday morning and started questioning Mir about his alleged involvement in the case. After preliminary round of questioning, the CBI officials informed him that he had been placed under arrest and that he would be taken on a transit remand to Srinagar, the sources said.

Mir was nominated by the Congress Election Committee as polling agent for its party president Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli but was withdrawn after his name started doing rounds in the sex scandal.

In Srinagar, Mattoo too had CBI sleuths at his doorsteps early morning. They informed him that he had been placed under arrest and that he needed to accompany them to the CBI's makeshift office at Humhama in outskirts of the Srinagar city.

Mattoo is a legislator from Habba Kadal constituency where Sabeena, the alleged kingpin's house had been brought down by angry protestors on May one.

With the arrest of the two, the number of people nabbed in the case has gone upto 11. Nine persons, including Sabeena and Deputy Inspector General of the Border Security Force K S Padhi had been arrested by the CBI and the local police for allegedly raping a minor girl.

Meanwhile, the CBI submitted a status report before the Jammu and Kashmir high court, which set Friday as the next date of hearing of the case.