News Report: Ministry of Home Affairs Directs Re-Submission of Prosecution Proposals in Arms Licenses Scam
New Delhi, March 12, 2025-:-In the ongoing investigation into the infamous Arms Licenses Scam, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, has taken a significant step towards holding accountable officials allegedly involved in the scandal. The MHA, in its recent communication dated February 21, 2025, returned the incomplete prosecution proposals concerning three senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh.
The three officers—Yasha Mudgal (IAS AGMUT 2007), Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary (IAS AGMUT 2009), and Niraj Kumar (IAS AGMUT 2010)—are under scrutiny for their roles in the scam. The MHA directed the Chief Secretary of J&K to re-submit the proposals within a week, along with the necessary documents, including authenticated copies of the FIRs, witness statements, investigation reports, recovery memos, and other vital enclosures required for a thorough examination.
In its communication, the MHA also requested the inclusion of a written statement of defense from the accused officers, comments from the Investigating Officer (IO), as well as the concurrence of the Legal Department. The re-submission of the proposal is expected to provide clarity and move forward the process of potential prosecution.
The MHA’s direction came following the submission of a status report by the General Administration Department (GAD) of J&K, which had updated the Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on the ongoing developments in the case. The report, dated December 27, 2024, informed the court that the J&K government had forwarded its views to the MHA regarding the three IAS officers under investigation, and that the government was compiling views on additional officers involved in the case. This included IAS officer Prasanna Ramaswamy G, whose case involves jurisdictional issues, as the alleged offenses took place within the jurisdiction of Ladakh.
The MHA’s communication on February 12, 2025, further emphasized the need for the prosecution sanction proposals of two other IAS officers, M Raju (IAS AGMUT 2005), the then District Magistrate (DM) of Kargil, and Prasanna Ramaswamy G, the former DM of Leh. These proposals, the MHA stated, should be forwarded with the administrative approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
The case, which has attracted significant public attention, is being closely monitored by the Division Bench of the High Court in PIL No. 09/2012 titled Sheikh Mohd Shafi & Anr. vs Union of India & Ors. The High Court is overseeing the investigation and has urged timely action on the prosecution of the accused officials.
As per the MHA’s latest status report, dated March 8, 2025, the Ministry has reiterated the need for the J&K government to provide the necessary documentation and re-submit the prosecution proposals for the three IAS officers. The government has been instructed to ensure compliance within a week to allow the legal process to continue unhindered.
The PIL, now under active review, has become a significant case in the ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and irregularities in the arms licensing process, particularly in sensitive regions like Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The outcome of this case could have wide-ranging implications for administrative accountability and governance in the region.
