“In reply to an RTI, Ladakh administration admitted that during the tenure of G Prasanna Ramaswamy as Deputy Commissioner Leh, 6088 Gun Licenses had been issued by his office from 01.09.2015 to 13.09.2017“
K Koushal
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Special Police Establishment, Anti Corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir has reportedly forwarded a complaint against a senior Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer in fresh ‘fake gun license scam’, to the Head of the Branch, CBI, Special Crime Branch, Chandigarh for further investigation.
According to the documents (in possession of The Typewriter), a letter signed by Dr Vidyut Vikash, IRS, Head of Branch CBI:SPE:ACB Jammu is referred to the head of branch Central Bureau of Investigation, Special Crime Branch, Chandigarh, wherein it is mentioned that a complaint by whistleblower is forwarded to the head office as cases related to subject matter are investigated by head branch.
It is pertinent to mention that a whistleblower has reportedly exposed fresh gun license scam with the alleged involvement of senior IAS officers. Whistleblower has also submitted documentary evidences before the CBI, which also has been forwarded to the head office.
Meanwhile sources also shared that in reply to an RTI, Ladakh administration admitted that during the tenure of G Prasanna Ramaswamy as Deputy Commissioner Leh, 6088 Gun Licenses had been issued by his office from 01.09.2015 to 13.09.2017.
The RTI reply further maintained that all the documents pertaining to this has been sealed and submitted at CBI office Chandigarh.
According to a complaint submitted by the whistleblower (a copy of which is in possession of The Typewriter), an estimated two lakh gun licenses were reportedly issued from the year 2012 onwards.
The whistleblower pointed out that G. Prasanna Ramaswamy, IAS, a senior officer from the 2010 batch, has been allegedly linked to the scandal. He served as the Deputy Commissioner in Leh, Ladakh, from September 2015 to September 2017 and later in Reasi from September 2017 to November 2018. The whistleblower’s complaint indicates that attempts were made to seek information through Right to Information (RTI) applications regarding Ramaswamy’s involvement, but the General Administration Department claimed to have not received any FIRs or reports against him.
“CBI has arrested some of the then Deputy Commissioners, Public servants, touts/agents/brokers/ middle men which were found involved in the above said scam and even many raids at different locations of officers and co-accused were conducted to seize the records which includes the premises of G. Prasanna Ramaswamy, IAS who was Licensing Authority of District Reasi w.e.f 15.09.2017 to 12.11.2018. But thereafter his name never surfaced in any place,” whistleblower asserted in the complaint, adding, “G. Prasanna Ramaswamy, is among those named in connection with this scandal. He served as Deputy Commissioner in Leh, Ladakh from September 2015 to September 2017 and later in Reasi from September 2017 to November 2018.”
Complaint reads, this shows itself that these licenses were issued in league with the officials and the touts, as the fee has been deposited in bulk by a single person only. It is also unbelievable that persons who are residing in Reasi and applying for Gun License to Deputy Commissioner, Reasi would come in other districts for depositing of requisite fee/Treasury Challans. This also creates suspicion of establishment that the processing of these licenses has taken place at Jammu and everything has been done at Jammu and for this aspect it is also required to be investigated/probed from National Informatics Centre (N.I.C) that from where the process of these Gun licenses have been initiated, verified and approved on Portal and which I.P and computer system has been used for login ids of the then concerned clerks for initiating process and Deputy Commissioner, Reasi (G. Prasanna Ramaswamy, IAS) for approving these Licenses.
The applicant through the medium of an RTI approached the Public Information Officer, Deputy Commissioner Office, Reasi with request to provide certain information about the issuance of Gun Licenses, their fee receipts/Treasury receipts and posting period details of Mr Ramaswamy as Deputy Commissioner Reasi. It was informed that Mr Ramaswamy, remained posted as Deputy Commissioner, Reasi w.e.f 15.09.2017 to 12.11.2018 (about 14 months).
