Srinagar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Thursday raided the house of a businessman and his Al-Khudam Tour and Travels agency in connection with money laundering case of 2014-15 involving Rs 20 crores.
Director General of Police (DGP) Dr S P Vaid said that ED is conducting raids at the residence and offices of suspected persons, necessary to curb terror funding through hawals and other channels.
The ED has already arrested senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), a constituent of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, whose two sons and son-in-law besides spokesman are already under the detention of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with alleged terror funding from across the border in Kashmir.
A team of ED assisted by local Crime Branch (CB) and police conducted raids at the headquarter of the agency at “ Sangarmal” shopping complex on Moulana Azad link road near here Thursday.
Police sealed the area and ED went inside to check the records beside question the employees in the office of the agency. However, some employees who were on way to office were not allowed go inside by police personnel.
Similar raids were conducted at the residence of the owner of the agency Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad at Ahmed Nagar in the city outskirts. Police had closed all roads leading to the house and ED personnel conducted searches there.
Officail sources said the raids were conducted in connection with a money laundering case of 2014-15 and other periods involving Rs 20 crores.
The ED is conducting raids after it has registered a case under different sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The ED suspects the money was used for terror funding through hawala and other channels, they said.
Separatist leader who was arrested in Srinagar on July 26 from his house and has been sent to judicial remand by a Delhi court after ED grilled him in connection with money laundering and terror funding. However, Shah has denied the allegation and said it was political vendetta for demanding right to self determination.
