Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi has ordered the commencement of trial proceedings in a Rs 8.9-crore money laundering case involving Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik and six others, according to a report by The News Mill.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma directed that the recording of prosecution evidence begin on November 19. The hearing was held in a closed courtroom, the report said.
Malik, who appeared through video conferencing from Tihar Jail, denied the charges and said he would contest the case.
The other accused in the case are Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Naval Kishore Kapoor, Trison Farms and Construction Pvt Ltd, and Masarat Alam Bhat.
According to the prosecution allegations, the accused received Rs 8.9 crore through hawala channels from the Pakistani establishment and other sources to finance secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The case stems from an investigation registered by the NIA in 2017. The accused face charges under Sections 120B, 121 and 121A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In September, the court framed charges against Malik and the six other accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court found sufficient prima facie grounds to proceed against all seven accused under Section 3 of the PMLA, punishable under Section 4.
The allegations concern the alleged receipt and use of funds to support separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The charges remain allegations to be tested during the trial.
