Seize terror funds of JK operative: Court

In perhaps first such action against terror funds channelled into the country, a special money laundering court here has ordered freezing of Rs 55 lakh cash of fugitive terrorist Nasir Safi Mir, who is said to be the financial brain behind terror and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

The seizure of the cash, under money laundering laws, was made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this year in what is widely seen as the first major case of terror funding being successfully nailed in the country.

The Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), a judicial body to decide on strict enforcement cases, has also asked the Special Cell of the Delhi Police to hand over the cash to the ED.

The Special Cell has been custodian of this cash since 2006 when Kashmir-based Mir was arrested by it in a special operation.

Mir, who managed to procure bail in 2008 on health grounds from Delhi High Court, later fled from Nepal allegedly using a fake passport and, according to security agencies, he is at present based in a Gulf country.

"In consideration of the overwhelming evidence produced, the provisional attachment order issued by the complainant (ED) is hereby confirmed and the Special Cell of Delhi Police, police station Special Cell, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi is directed to hand over the aforementioned attached amount to the Director of Directorate of Enforcement or to any other person authorised by him, to do so, on his behalf," the court of K Raamamoorthy said in a recent order.

Besides the Rs 55 lakh in cash, arms and ammunition were also seized from Mir at the time of his arrest.

Mir was subjected to extensive interrogation by central security agencies during which he is claimed to have spoken about his links with the separatist groups and banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

The ED attachment order identified the cash as "proceeds of crime of terrorist funding and money laundering".

This case, where seizure was ordered in January this year, was the maiden instance of crackdown against terror funding in the country under the stringent provisions of money laundering laws where the onus of proving 'not guilty' is on the accused.