Three weeks after The Indian Express first reported that the Srinagar sex abuse scandal involved top J-K politicians, police and security force officers, the CBI today arrested two former state ministers and was on the lookout for the former J-K Additional Advocate General. Sources said investigators are also exploring the possible involvement of a third former Minister.

The CBI investigators raided J&K House in Chanakyapuri in New Delhi early this morning and arrested Congress MLA G A Mir, former J-K Roads and Buildings minister.

A few hours later, the agency picked up former junior Industries Minister Raman Mattoo from his residence in the high-security Gupkar road area. Earlier the investigating agency had arrested a Deputy Inspector General of BSF, K S Padhi, and a Deputy Superintendent of J-K Police besides seven others and four women for their alleged involvement.

“We arrested (the two leaders) on the basis of statements made by the 15-year-old victim and Sabina (the alleged kingpin) which were corroborated by other girls as well,’’ said CBI DIG Pankaj Kumar, who is heading the probe. “Much more is still awaited,’’ he said, when asked whether other J&K politicians are under the scanner.

The arrests, CBI sources confirmed, were made after statements of four women were recorded in the presence of a District and Sessions Judge, as instructed by the High Court.

The identities and whereabouts of these four women and their Ministerial ‘‘clients’’ were first provided by Sabina to the CBI and then cross-checked with witness statements.

The women are said to have admitted having visited the politicians’ residences between 2002-2005 when they held Ministerial portfolios. One woman told the CBI that she went to meet the Minister in connection with a job but was later ‘‘exploited’’ by him.

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