Delhi High Court Probes Money Laundering Case Against Bilquies Shah

The Delhi High Court has called for a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a plea from Bilquies Shah, the wife of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, seeking to dismiss a money laundering case against her. Justice Sanjeev Narula has scheduled the case for hearing on September 26, alongside a petition involving Mohd. Aslam Wani.

Bilquies Shah, represented by advocate M S Khan, has petitioned to quash the money laundering charges filed by the ED, who submitted a supplementary charge sheet against her in 2021. The charges originate from a 2007 case implicating Shabir Ahmad Shah and Mohd. Aslam Wani.

The petition emphasizes that charges were framed against Mohd. Aslam Wani and other co-accused, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, in 2017 by the Patiala House Courts in New Delhi. To date, the prosecution has examined only four out of 33 witnesses related to the original complaint. Bilquies Shah has not been arrested in connection with the case, despite the supplementary charge sheet. The charges allege she, along with her husband, received cash payments totaling Rs 2.08 crore from co-accused Mohd. Aslam Wani. Her petition contends that no independent evidence corroborates Wani's statements under Section 50 of the PMLA. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)