New Delhi, October 1: A Special NIA Court in New Delhi has ordered the framing of money laundering charges against jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik and six others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case involving alleged foreign funding routed through hawala channels.
The other accused are Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Naval Kishore Kapoor, Masarat Alam Bhat, and Trison Farms and Constructions Pvt Ltd. Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma held that there was prima facie sufficient material on record to raise a strong suspicion against the seven accused under Section 3 of the PMLA, punishable under Section 4.
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the case concerns alleged proceeds of crime amounting to approximately ₹8.94 crore. The agency has alleged that foreign funds were received through various channels and hawala networks and were subsequently routed, transferred or used in connection with activities in Jammu and Kashmir. These are prosecution allegations and remain subject to adjudication.
The ED case originated from an NIA case registered in 2017. The agency has alleged that cash couriers and intermediaries were used to transfer funds from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to members of the Hurriyat leadership. The allegations also concern foreign contributions allegedly received during the 2015–16 financial year.
The court’s order was passed on September 9, while the matter was subsequently listed for the accused to accept or deny the charges. Some accused could not be physically produced because of security considerations, and the court directed the ED to obtain their signatures on the charges while they remain in judicial custody. The next hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2026.
The framing of charges allows the money-laundering proceedings to move forward; it does not by itself constitute a finding of guilt. The allegations regarding the source, movement and alleged use of the funds will be considered during the continuing judicial proceedings.
