ED registers case against Tablighi’s chief Saad, others under PMLA

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 16

In a major move, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday registered a case against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad, the trusts linked to the Jamaat and others under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Officials in the ED said the case has been filed against the accused on the basis of a Delhi Police FIR against them.

The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch had on March 31 lodged an FIR against seven people, including the Maulana, on a complaint by the SHO of Nizamuddin police station for holding a congregation of Tablighi Jamaat followers in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The officials said the ED has worked on the finances and transactions of the Tablighi Jamaat and its office bearers over the last few days and has obtained various documents from banks and financial intelligence gathering agencies.

The agency is expected to issue summons to Saad soon for questioning, the official said, adding that he is considered to be in self-quarantine.

They said the ED is also looking at the opinion of medical experts about Saad’s claim of self-quarantine in the wake of COVID-19 exposure.

Kandhalvi had organised the religious gathering at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last month against the social distancing protocol imposed by the Centre to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The ED is also looking at the personal finances of Kandhalvi and some other office bearers and associates of the Tablighi Jamaat, the official said, adding that certain donations received by the Jamaat from foreign and domestic sources are also under the scanner of the agency.

In an audio message released sometime back, Saad had said he was exercising self-quarantine after several hundreds who visited the congregation at Nizamudddin Markaz tested positive for coronavirus.