A special NIA court has ordered framing of money laundering charges against separatist leader Yasin Malik and six others in connection with accusations for allegedly routing Pakistani and foreign funds through Hawala channels to “finance secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir”.
The next date has been scheduled for October 30. However, special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma of Rouse Avenue Courts on Wednesday directed the Enforcement Directorate to obtain the signatures of Malik and other accused in judicial custody after they could not be produced before the court physically for formal framing of charges due to security concerns.
In an order passed on September 9 and made available on Thursday, the court had held that there was sufficient material to raise a “strong suspicion” against all seven accused for an offence under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), punishable under Section 4 of the Act. “I conclude that prima facie, there is sufficient material on record based upon which strong suspicion is raised against all seven accused persons,” the court said.
The criminal activities under investigation generated proceeds of crime totalling ₹ 8.94 crore, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED investigation further alleged that Malik received another ₹ 15 lakh through Watali during 2015-16, taking the total amount allegedly received by Malik to ₹ 30.75 lakh. The agency alleged that the money was subsequently received, transferred, concealed, possessed, acquired and used by the accused through different channels. The agency alleged these funds were used to sustain the JKLF and intensify secessionist violence.
The investigation further uncovered emails associated with Malik which, according to the ED, indicated that he had developed a network to raise funds abroad for terrorist, secessionist and unlawful activities in Jammu and Kashmir in the name of a “freedom struggle”.
