Shabir Shah, Wani to face trial

MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

New Delhi, Nov 15: Paving the way for trial, a court here on Wednesday framed charges against Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah and alleged hawala dealer Muhammad Aslam Wani in a money laundering case.

After the accused pleaded not guilty, Additiol Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma listed the matter for January 3 for recording of statements of witnesses.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had in September filed a chargesheet against Wani and Shah under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Wani, arrested on August 6, had reportedly confessed that he passed on hawala money amounting to Rs 2.25 crore to Shah.

Shah was arrested on July 25 on charges of money laundering in a case dating back to 2005 when the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Wani.

In the 2005 case lodged by the Special Cell, the court had acquitted co-accused Wani of the charges of crimil conspiracy and other offences but convicted him under the Arms Act, his defence counsel told the court.

The Enforcement Directorate submitted that conviction under the Arms Act was the trigger point to take action under the PMLA.

Both have denied the charges.

The court observed that Wani being a member of banned terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad collected illegal hawala money from Delhi, which he received from Pakistan-based terror outfits and sympathisers and delivered the same on various occasions to co- accused Shah in Srigar for purpose of promoting terror activities in the valley. (IANS)