Delhi court orders framing charges under PMLA provisions against separatist Shabir Shah’s wife

A Delhi court has ordered the framing of charges against Bilquies Shah, the wife of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, in a 2007 money laundering case related to alleged terror financing, saying there was a prima facie case against her. Bilquies is accused of receiving Rs 2.08 crore from co-accused Mohd Aslam Wani. In an order passed on Tuesday, Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon said, ''At the stage of charge, the court is required to assess whether the material placed on record discloses a grave suspicion against the accused warranting framing of charge.'' She said the ''material procured by Enforcement Directorate (ED) during detailed investigation in the form of relied upon documents, statements of the witnesses and of accused persons recorded… are sufficient to show prima facie case and create grave suspicion against the accused Dr Bilquies Shah under sections 3 and 4 (offence and punishment for money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).'' The court ordered framing charges against her under Sections 3 and 4 of PMLA. These sections are for offences involving any direct or indirect participation in processes connected to ''proceeds of crime''. The court posted the matter for formal framing of charges on May 20. A court here has already framed charges against the co-accused, Shabir Shah and Aslam Wani, in the case in November 2017.

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