Special court in Delhi has ordered the formulation of the charges against jailed Mohammad Yasin Malik of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and others accused in the money laundering case stemming from the alleged foreign funding of the party through “hawala” system.
The court felt that no valid explanation could be formed from the few facts recorded and the fear was quite justifiable. Naval Kishore Kapoor, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Masarat Alam and Abdul Rashid Sheikh were also made chargees.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had in 2017 the money laundering case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency has uncovered that the accused received financial assistance from the Pakistani establishment through the hawala system, besides other terrorist outfits.
The money appeared to have been funneled to back the secessionist activities, the ED said, adding that it had been supporting a prejudicial agenda. The agency claimed that it had linked to a network of agents, cash couriers and lesser-known individuals who received funds from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and then handed them over to individuals belonging to the Hurriyat leadership.
The ED says this money was meant to fund activities “related to the dogma of separation of the Jammu and Kashmir valley from the Indian union.
The agency, in its investigation, found a net money worth of ₹8.94 crore, it said. It also alleged that the accused received the funds, transferred the funds, made them go into hiding or concealed, possessed, acquired or used the funds using different channels.
Both framing of the charges already confirmed by the court that there exists enough prima facie evidence for the prosecution to take forward with the case. This is not a conviction, but rather will be the basis for conviction at trial.
Malik is already serving a life sentence in separate terror-funding case.