Srinagar, July 25: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday quashed an FIR and related proceedings against international canoeing champion and former Indian team coach Bilquis Mir, calling the case a “witch-hunt by vested interests.”
Justice Sanjay Dhar, while delivering the verdict, said continuing the criminal proceedings would amount to an “abuse of process of law.” The court held that even if the allegations in the FIR were assumed true, they did not establish any offence against Mir.
The FIR (No. 23/2023) was filed under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the RPC by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Central Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelJustice Dhar expressed concern over the investigating agency’s conduct, noting it even scrutinized Mir’s graduate examination answer scripts, which he said “smacks of vengeance.”
Praising Mir’s achievements, Justice Dhar said, “Instead of honouring and celebrating our sporting heroes, we are leaving no stone unturned in harassing them. No wonder, even after 75 years of independence, India still struggles to develop a strong sporting culture.”(KNS)