ED arrests suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain under PMLA

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 31

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested suspended Aam Admi Party (AAP) Councillor Tahir Hussain, who is an accused in a case relating to the riots in north-east Delhi, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and has secured six days custodial remand from a special court here.

The officials in the ED said Hussain was arrested in connection with the ongoing PMLA investigation into his role in money laundering and funding of the anti-CAA protests and organising riots in north-east Delhi during February 2020.

They said the PMLA Investigation was based on multiple FIRs registered by the crime branch and Dayalpur Police Station of Delhi police under various sections of the IPC, which are scheduled offences under the PMLA.

“Investigation conducted under the PMLA has revealed that companies owned or controlled by Hussain and his relatives transferred huge amounts of money to dubious entities and entry operators, which was returned by them in cash,” a senior ED official said.

The cash received by Hussain through entry operators was allegedly used to fuel the anti-CAA protests and Delhi riots, he added.

“Investigations had also revealed alleged involvement of Hussain and his companies in illegal laundering of money in the past too. Searches were conducted by the ED at the residential and business premises of Hussain and his relatives and associates in Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida on June 23, 2020,” the official said,  adding that these raids had led to the recovery of incriminating documents and pieces of evidence, including fake invoices, which were used for the fraudulent transfer of money.

He also said over the past few days, Hussain had been interrogated by the ED officers in Tihar Jail while under arrest by Delhi police. Subsequently, he was arrested under the PMLA for his role in money laundering and brought to the agency’s office here for custodial interrogation.

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