NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached Rs 17,73,914 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act allegedly received by Irshad Ahmad Qureshi, Irshad Ahmad Hajjam and Firdous Ahmad Wani of Baramula and other areas of Jammu and Kashmir from terror outfit Hiz-bul-Muzahiddin for terror activities in the State.
During PMLA investigation, PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi stated that he works as a private school principal and that in November 2007 he came in contact with one terrorist Bashir Ahmad Aijaz, while travelling in a bus from Baramulla to Srinagar, who offered him a proposal for distribution of money against a commission of five per cent, the agency said.
Qureshi further stated that he accepted the said proposal and accordingly, as per the arrangements, he used to get money into his bank account No. SB 18222 in a J&K Bank, Qamarwari Branch, Srinagar, which was subsequently distributed among the people as per the instruction of Bashir Ahmad Aijaz.
Qureshi also stated that subsequently he associated Irshad Ahmad Hajjam with him and utilized his services for distribution of the money against a commission of two percent. Irshad Ahmad Hajjam admitted his involvement in the crime. Both the accused stated that the money seized from the residence of Irshad Ahmad Hajjam was provided to them by one Firdous Ahmad Wani, the third accused. “Firdous Ahmad Wani tried to mislead the investigation and stated that the seized money was the share of sale of ancestral house, which was meant for his brother settled in Pakistan. However, he could not justify the recovered amount as sale proceeds,” the agency said in a statement.
Analysis of bank statement of PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi from Descember 1, 2007 to July 9, 2011 reveals that deposits to the tune of Rs 22,75,213 (including interest received) have been made in his J&K Bank account no SB 18222. An amount of Rs. 18,00,000 has been withdrawn during the check period. The amount deposited in the account of PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi has been distributed by him.
“Accordingly, proceeds of crime of Rs.17,73,914 in the form of cash and bank balance has been attached by the ED, Srinagar on 28.03.2017 under Section 5 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002,” the agency statement further said.
According to FIR No. 14/2009 (dated 10.03.2009) filed in the case by Karan Nagar police station in Srinagar, two persons namely PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi, resident of Delina, Baramulla and Irshad Ahmad Hajjam, resident of Haigam, Sopore, were apprehended on March 10, 2009 from Srinagar.
Personal searches by the police led to the recovery of Rs. 1.25 lakh---Rs 40,000 from PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi and Rs 85,000 from Irshad Ahmad Hajjam. Further cash amount of Rs 7 lakh along with incriminating documents were seized from the residential house of PZ. Irshad Ahmad Qureshi and Rs 3 lakh was recovered from the residence of Firdous Ahmad Wani, resident of Hamza Colony Illahibagh, Srinagar. Disclosure of another accused Irshad Ahmad Hajjam led to the seizure of Rs 2.15 lakh in cash along with three letter pads of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit from his residence. Likewise, an amount of Rs 4,34,414 lying in the account no SB-18222 of PZ Irshad Ahmad Qureshi in J&K Bank was also frozen by local Police during the investigation.
The total amount of Rs17,74,414 was seized/frozen by the police that was linked to the crime out of which one piece of Rs.500 note was found counterfeit during FSL examination.