Farooq moves HC over ED order on properties

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 5

Hearing on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s petition challenging an ED order attaching his properties in a money laundering case was deferred to March 8 after a Jammu and Kashmir High Court Judge on Friday recused himself.

Abdullah, former J&K CM, has moved the High Court against the Enforcement Directorate’s December 2020 order. On Friday, Justice Ali Mohammed Magrey recused himself saying he had declined hearing similar cases in the past. Now, the matter will be listed before another judge on Monday.

The ED alleged that Abdullah “misused” his position as JKCA president from 2001-2011 and made appointments in the sports body so the BCCI-sponsored funds could be laundered.

Abdullah said the list of properties — worth Rs 12 crore — attached by the ED in Kashmir and in Jammu were unrelated to the alleged criminal activity mentioned in the final report/FIR and termed it a “continuing violation of his fundamental rights”. Abdullah contended that on the date of the registration of the ECIR (Enforcement Commission Information Report) and the initiation of investigation, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was governed by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, 1956, and had special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.

Mufti summoned in money laundering case

• The ED has served a notice on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti asking her to appear before it in Delhi for questioning and recording of statement on March 15
• The former Jammu & Kashmir CM is facing probe in a money laundering case
• Reacting to the ED summon, Mehbooba’s daughter Sana Mufti said, “It is a clear case of political vendetta”
• Mehbooba was released in October last year after being put under preventive custody on August 5, 2019

(With PTI inputs)