Farooq Abdullah Fearing a scam, then CM Omar Abdullah, son of Farooq Abdullah,went slow on granting permission for custodial interrogations of the accused. Along with Abdullah other accused include then JKCA general secretary Saleem Khan, treasurer Mohammad Ahsan Mirza and a J&K Bank executive Bashir Ahmed Mansir

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday in connection with a money laundering case involving embezzlement to the tune of Rs 113 crore from the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) funds.

"He arrived at the ED office in Chandigarh where the investigative officer is recording his statement," said an ED officer. The ED probe is based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2015 alleging embezzlement of funds from J&K Cricket Association (JKCA). The agency has stated that Abdullah was the president of JKCA when the alleged irregularities were noticed in the state cricket body between 2001 and 2011.

Along with Abdullah other accused include then JKCA general secretary Saleem Khan, treasurer Mohammad Ahsan Mirza and a J&K Bank executive Bashir Ahmed Mansir. The matter was earlier probed by the police, which filed an FIR at Ram Munshi Bagh police station in Srinagar on March 10, 2012. However, the matter was kept under wrap and the probe was stopped in the case.

Fearing the scam, then chief minister Omar Abdullah, son of Farooq Abdullah, attempted to botch up the investigation and went slow on granting permission for custodial interrogations of the accused.

It was DNA that broke the story on November 11, 2014, and exposed the role of Abdullah and his associates. Thereafter, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir took cognisance of a PIL filed based on the report leading to issuing of directions to CBI to register the case. It is alleged that Abdullah, along with nine JKCA office-bearers, are offenders under Sections 406, 168 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code for making the sports body a lending agency and for operating many bogus accounts.

The bank details since Abdullah became president on October 14, 2001, suggests that the JKCA has opened 18 bogus bank accounts, which don't find mention in the records and annual statements. JKCA distributed the money as loans to 50 individuals, mostly its own members and some companies.