Kashmir bizman sent to 10-day NIA custody

New Delhi, August 18

Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the National Investigation Agency for allegedly collecting money from Pakistan-based terror outfits for Hurriyat leaders, was today sent to 10-day custodial interrogation by a city court.

District Judge Poonam A Bamba allowed the agency’s plea for custody after it said that the accused was required to be confronted with evidence in the case in which Altaf Ahmed Shah, son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and six others were earlier arrested by the agency.

The judge said it was her considered opinion that ends of justice would be met by granting 10 days of police custody to enable the NIA to interrogate the accused.

The court is understood to have been told that during the in-chamber proceedings by the probe agency it had found various suspicious documents from the accused during the searches, including details of bank accounts and cash received by him from various terror outfits.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for the agency, sought his custody for two weeks. He is believed to have said during the hearing that the entire racket was spread outside the country and the accused was required to be confronted with various incriminating documents and taken to various places in relation with the ongoing probe.

The NIA also alleged that the accused was not cooperating in the investigation.

The defence advocate opposed the NIA application saying that the accused was a reputed businessman and a senior citizen who had always cooperated, court sources said.

Watali was arrested here yesterday by the agency for the alleged involvement in the case. Earlier, the agency had carried out raids on his premises and that of other suspects.

The NIA had said in a statement on June 3 that it had searched Watali’s house in Srinagar and seized incriminating documents pertaining to financial transactions and land deals.

The NIA had earlier arrested Geelani’s son-in-law Altaf Ahmed Shah, popularly known as Altaf Fantoosh, and six others who are currently in judicial custody in the case. — PTI

‘Got money through Pak High Commission’ 

Zahoor Watali, who has been sent to custody for 10 days on Friday, used to get the money for separatists through Dubai, Pakistan and even the Pakistan High Commission in India, NIA sources said. Watali used to provide money to separatist leaders and got 8 to 9% commission, said an NIA source. Watali used the money for terror funding in Kashmir as well as create wealth for himself and has several crores property in Kashmir and Gurugram, the source added. ANI 

Wani to be produced in court today

New Delhi: Close aide of separatist Shabir Shah and an alleged hawala dealer Mohammad Aslam Wani will be produced before a Delhi Court today in connection with the Jammu and Kashmir’s terror funding case. The Delhi Court on August 14 had extended Enforcement Directorate’s remand of Wani by six days in the terror funding case. ANI