A Srinagar court recently directed the framing of charges against National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and others named in an alleged Rs 112-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association financial irregularities case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Tabasum on February 2 directed that the case be listed for formal framing of charges on March 12. This means that those named will now have to face trial.

The bench said that on a preliminary reading, the essential ingredients of the offences of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust were made out against those named in the case.

The court’s order added that once charges are framed, the statements of two accused, who have turned approvers, will be recorded as evidence.

Those named, including Abdullah, will face charges pertaining to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and criminal breach of trust by public servants.

However, the court rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s request to add certain offences to the case. The judge held that the Enforcement Directorate cannot intervene in a case that is being investigated, filed and prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

“Therefore, the applicant has no locus standi as per the law to seek the addition of charge in the present case,” the order said while dismissing the Enforcement Directorate’s...

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