ED attaches over Rs 6 lakh worth assets in terror funding case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said that it has attached additional assets worth Rs 6.34 lakh in connection with a money laundering investigation involving banned terrorist groups: Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Indian Mujahideen (IM).

According to the statement issued by ED, the attached immovable properties belong to accused Raju Khan and were seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case originates from an FIR filed by the Chhattisgarh Police in Raipur against Dheeraj Sao and others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The FIR alleged that certain bank accounts were used to receive funds from unknown sources in India on instructions from a person identified as "Khalid of Pakistan."

These funds were then transferred to alleged members of SIMI and IM, including Zubair Hussain, Aysha Banu and Raju Khan.

According to the ED, Sao misused multiple bank accounts, under Khalid’s direction, to divert cash deposits from various sources. The funds were routed either directly or through multiple layers to accounts belonging to Zubair Hussain, Aysha Banu and others.

Raju Khan was identified as a key player in this network. He allegedly withdrew the deposited cash quickly and handed it over to individuals as instructed by Khalid and Sao.

An analysis of Khan’s bank accounts revealed deposits totalling over Rs 48 lakh. Out of this, he transferred more than Rs 42 lakh in cash to people linked to SIMI and IM, while keeping around 13 percent, approximately Rs 6.34 lakh, as commission, which the ED termed proceeds of crime.

Earlier in the investigation, the ED had attached assets worth approximately Rs 3 lakh. To date, a total of Rs 9.15 lakh worth of movable and immovable properties have been provisionally attached.

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