In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged an FIR against 2010 batch IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, the Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Labour Department, on charges of amassing disproportionate assets. As part of the investigation, the agency has conducted searches at seven different locations, officials confirmed.
The case involves allegations of financial misconduct and the accumulation of assets far beyond what Ranjan could legitimately justify based on his known sources of income. The CBI’s action comes after the Centre granted the agency the necessary sanction to proceed with the investigation.
In a related matter, Mr Ranjan is also facing allegations in a major arms license scam. As the former Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, Ranjan was one of nine IAS officers accused of issuing arms licenses to non-deserving applicants in exchange for monetary compensation. These actions are said to have violated ethical standards and procedures, compromising the integrity of the arms licensing process in the region.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has confirmed that prosecution sanction has been granted for Ranjan’s involvement in the arms license case. The matter is currently being adjudicated in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court raised concerns on November 25, 2024, regarding what it described as a “pick and choose” approach in granting prosecution sanctions against the bureaucrats involved in the scam. The court emphasized the need for transparent and consistent handling of such cases, citing the gravity of the allegations.
