JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din has appeared before the state Accountability Commission, which had issued a contempt notice to him for his “false claims” that the commission gave him a clean chit in a forest land grabbing case.
The irrigation and flood control minister had on November 28, claimed that the commission gave him a clean chit in September 2005 in the case.
However, the anti-graft panel said that the case against the minister was still being probed.
“The official document reveals that land grab allegations against Taj Mohi-ud-din are being probed and the organisation is yet to arrive at a final conclusion,” the SAC had said.
The minister had also claimed that Vigilance Kashmir also conveyed to the government that no forest land was grabbed by him in Sedhav forests in Shopian district of South Kashmir.
Yesterday Mohi-ud-din appeared before the commission with his lawyer.
“I had appeared before SAC yesterday–I had presented documentary evidence to them to support my case,” he said.
The anti-graft panel had issued notices to Mohi-ud-din on December 10 for contempt and had asked him to appear before the commission in person.
It had observed that, “the statement made by the Cabinet Minister Taj Mohi-ud-din, prima facie appears to be false, which may amount to contempt of the Commission under the provisions of J&K Contempt of Courts Act 1997.”
The commission has reserved the judgement for December 24.
(PTI)
