Terror Funding Case: ED Attaches Gurugram Assets ‘Owned’ by Saeed

The property was bought by Saeed’s alleged financier, Watali, who was arrested by the agency in August last year.

File image of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed.

(Photo: Reuters)

In a major crackdown on terror funding, the Enforcement Directorate has attached immovable assets worth crores in Gurugram, that allegedly belonged to Hafiz Saeed, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief, purchased via Srinagar-based businessman Zahoor Ahmed Shah Watali.

The assets, worth Rs 1.03 crore, were attached during an investigation in a money laundering case related to funding of terror organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Monday, as per PTI.

According to a NIA source quoted by The Print, the property, a villa, was bought by Saeed’s alleged financier, Watali, who was arrested by the agency in August last year.

The ED also believes that the villa was bought with funds from the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a Pakistan-based trust run by Saeed.

Sources said the agency has issued a provisional order for attachment of assets of Watali under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED case is based on a charge sheet filed by the NIA as part of its probe against Saeed.

The official sources, quoting the ED order, said J&K-based Watali "has been found to be involved in fund raising and as a financial conduit of Hurriyat leaders".

They said the NIA probe revealed that the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other secessionists instigate the public, especially youths, to observe strikes and issue directives to the masses to hold anti-India protests, demonstrations and processions through press releases, newspapers and social media.

“This is done wilfully to create such circumstances which will arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the Government of India,” they said quoting the ED order.

Watali, Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudin and nine others have been accused by the NIA of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.

In its charge sheet, the NIA has alleged that Watali received money from ISI of Pakistan, the Pakistan High Commission here and from a source in Dubai.

(With inputs from The Print, PTI)