Delhi court orders framing of charges against Bilquies Shah, wife of Shabir Ahmad Shah, in PMLA case

The Patiala House Court has found a prima facie case of money laundering against Bilquies Shah, wife of Shabir Ahmad Shah, and ordered framing of charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), holding that the material on record raises a grave suspicion of her involvement. The order was passed on April 24, 2026, by Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon at Patiala House Courts in proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged hawala transactions linked to terror funding.

Representing the ED, Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Naveen Kumar Matta, assisted by Advocate Faizan Khan, argued that the evidence collected during the investigation clearly discloses the accused's role in handling proceeds of crime. According to the ED, co-accused Mohd. Aslam Wani acted as a courier of hawala funds, receiving money in Delhi and delivering it to Shabir Ahmad Shah and, on several occasions, to Bilquies Shah.

The agency has alleged that a total of Rs 2.08 crore was transferred between 2004 and 2005 and constitutes proceeds of crime under the PMLA. The prosecution further claimed that the funds were utilised for personal expenses, acquisition of immovable properties, and maintaining a lifestyle disproportionate to known sources of income. Certain properties in Srinagar were alleged to have been acquired through benami transactions, masking the illicit origin of funds.

The court observed that despite being a government doctor with a limited salary, Bilquies Shah was unable to satisfactorily explain financial transactions, property acquisitions, and loan repayments, which adds to the suspicion regarding the source of funds. Reiterating the settled legal position, the court noted that at the stage of framing a charge, it is only required to assess whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed and not to conclusively determine guilt. It held that the material placed on record, including statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA and documentary evidence, meets this threshold.

Accordingly, the court concluded that a prima facie case is made out and directed that charges be framed against Bilquies Shah for offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA. (ANI)

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