Delhi violence: ED files chargesheet against Tahir Hussain in money laundering case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday filed a charge sheet in a Delhi court against former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in a money laundering case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi in February. The ED was probing the allegation that Hussain and his linked persons laundered about Rs 1.10 crore by using purported shell or dummy companies to fuel protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the riots. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat took cognisance of the offences under section 3 (money laundering) read with section 70 (offences by companies) punishable under section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 against Hussain and co-accused Amit Gupta. The judge directed that Hussain and Gupta be produced in court on 19 October. There is prima facie sufficient incriminating material about the involvement of the accused persons. Thus, cognizance of the offence under section 3 read with Section 70, punishable under Section 4 of PMLA, 2002 is taken against accused Tahir Hussain and accused Amit Gupta," the court said. The ED said in its charge sheet that investigation in the case was in progress and a supplementary complaint may be filed later. The Enforcement Directorate may proceed with further investigation, as per law, the court said. Hussain is in judicial custody in the case. The ED’s Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta had earlier told the court that Hussain was allegedly involved in money laundering and various other acts of cheating, falsification and forgery of documents, and criminal conspiracy. Matta had said the ED had seized several incriminating documents and digital devices after conducting searches at various premises. The ED also alleged that Hussain had entered into a criminal conspiracy by fraudulently transferring money from the accounts of many companies. This money, which was allegedly proceeds of crime, was used for committing various other scheduled offences, the agency had claimed. Senior advocate KK Manan and advocate Rizwan, appearing for Hussain, had claimed that he was a victim of circumstances and was falsely implicated in the case. Hussain was arrested in several cases related to the riots. He has also been booked under the stringent anti-terror law - Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - in a conspiracy case related to the riots. He was also arrested in connection with the murder of IB official Ankit Sharma during the riots. Communal violence had broken out in northeast Delhi on 24 February after clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.