Sex scam: Special court acquits former DSP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

Mohammad Yusuf Mir, who was posted as Srinagar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 1995, was today acquitted by a special court here in the Jammu and Kashmir sex scandal.

Mir was booked under Section 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Section 67 of the Information and technology Act in July 2006. He was accused of sexually exploiting a minor for money via a brothel run by the prime accused, Sabeena, and her husband in 2004. However, the victim turned hostile in the court and did not support the prosecution’s case, leading to his acquittal.

The original case, naming many person, including ministers and influential men, had been filed in March 2006. During the investigation, Mir’s role came under the scanner and an FIR was filed in July 2006. The investigation was handed over to the CBI in May. During interrogation, it was found out that Mir was one of the customers who came to Sabeena’s residence-cum-brothel in Srinagar in 1995. He was then serving as the DSP in Srinagar.

As per the CBI chargesheet, after the brothel was raided in 2004, Sabeena and her husband shifted to another area. There also, Mir visited the brothel and in September 2004, he procured the victim from Sabeena. He took her to his house in Police Colony, Bemina, exploited her and paid her Rs 7,000.

It was also alleged that Mir continued to exploit her even after the scandal became public. As per the chargesheet, Mir made the victim give an interview in 2006 wherein she was told to name two other persons but not him.

The scam came to the light in 2006 after the police found two video CDs showing Kashmiri women being sexually exploited. The police questioned two girls, including the prosecutrix and Sabeena. After grilling them, they got the names of 56 people allegedly involved in the racket. Later, the case was shifted by the Supreme Court to Chandigarh.

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2006 case

The scam came to the light in 2006 after the police found two video CDs showing Kashmiri women being sexually exploited. The police questioned two girls, including the prosecutrix and main accused Sabeena. After grilling them, they got the names of 56 people allegedly involved in the racket. Later, the case was shifted by the Supreme Court to Chandigarh.