Srinagar: In a dramatic turn during proceedings in the alleged Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam, a Srinagar court on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for failing to appear before the court.
The warrant, however, was later recalled after Abdullah moved an application explaining his absence on medical and security grounds.
The order issuing the warrant was passed by the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, during the hearing of a case titled Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) versus Mohammad Saleem Khan and others.
During the proceedings, an exemption from personal appearance was sought on behalf of accused number five — Farooq Abdullah. The defence counsel informed the court that the former chief minister was unable to attend the hearing either physically or through video conferencing.
The court, however, declined to grant the exemption. According to the order, the counsel was offered the option of ensuring the accused’s appearance through virtual mode, but did not consent to it.
“Keeping in view the contents of the application, the counsel for the accused was given an option to ensure the presence of the accused through virtual mode; however, counsel did not consent and stated that the accused could neither physically nor via virtual mode appear before the court,” the order noted.
In view of the absence, the court rejected the exemption plea and directed its office to issue a non-bailable warrant against Abdullah to secure his presence in the proceedings.
A similar exemption application filed on behalf of accused number three was also rejected, and the court directed issuance of a non-bailable warrant in that case as well. Other accused persons were present during the hearing.
Shortly afterwards, Abdullah moved an application seeking recall of the warrant. In the plea, he stated that he is a senior citizen aged about 88 years and is suffering from multiple age-related ailments, placing him in a high-risk medical category.
The application further stated that a traumatic and life-threatening attack had allegedly been launched against him in Jammu on March 11, 2026, which prevented him from attending the court proceedings.
Taking note of the submissions, the court accepted the plea and recalled the non-bailable warrant issued against the former chief minister.
The case relates to alleged financial irregularities in the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. The investigation is being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has filed a chargesheet against several individuals.
Earlier this week, the Chief Judicial Magistrate directed the framing of charges against Abdullah and other accused persons in the case.
In a five-page order, the court observed that a prima facie case exists against the accused under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The court also directed that after the framing of charges, statements of two approvers—accused numbers three and six—would be recorded as evidence. It cautioned that if the approvers retract their earlier statements, appropriate legal action may follow.
Meanwhile, the court rejected an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking to be impleaded as a party in the case. The court held that the ED had no legal standing to intervene in a case being investigated and prosecuted by the CBI, as no scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act had been disclosed in the chargesheet.
The matter has now been listed for recording the statements of the accused on March 30, 2026, with the court warning that failure of any accused to appear on the next date could invite appropriate legal action.
