Delhi court orders trial against Yasin Malik, six others in money laundering case
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi has ordered the commencement of trial against Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik and six others in a money laundering case linked to allegations of receiving foreign funds through hawala channels.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma on Friday directed that the recording of prosecution evidence begin on November 19. The proceedings were held in a closed courtroom, according to a report by the news agency ANI.
Malik, who appeared through video conferencing from Tihar Jail, denied the charges and told the court that he would contest the case.
The case, being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is linked to an NIA case registered in 2017 over alleged terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ED has alleged that the accused generated and received proceeds of crime amounting to ₹8.94 crore. According to the agency, funds were allegedly routed through cash couriers and intermediaries who collected money from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and delivered it to members of the Hurriyat leadership, including Malik.
The other accused are Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Naval Kishore Kapoor, Masarat Alam Bhat and Trison Farms and Construction Pvt Ltd.
On September 9, the court ordered the framing of charges against all seven accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), holding that the material on record raised a strong suspicion of money laundering. The charges are punishable under Section 4 of the Act.
The ED has alleged that foreign contributions were received by Malik, Shah and Alam through Watali during the 2015-16 financial year. It has also relied on documents and emails that, according to the agency, point to an alleged network for raising funds abroad to support the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and secessionist activities in the region.
The allegations are part of the prosecution's case and are to be tested during the trial.