Wani withdraws bail plea in money laundering case

Alleged hawala dealer Muhammad Aslam Wani, accused of money laundering, on Monday withdrew his bail plea from a court here.

Wani told Additional Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma that he will file a fresh bail plea after going through the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s chargesheet filed against him in the case.

ED has filed a chargesheet in the case on Saturday against Wani and Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) under which it booked a case against the two.

Wani, who is currently in judicial custody till September 27, was arrested on August 6. He had reportedly confessed that he had passed on hawala money amounting to Rs 2.25 crore to Shabir Shah.

Shah was arrested on July 25 on charges of money laundering in a case dating back to 2005 when the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Wani.

In the 2005 case lodged by the Special Cell, the court had acquitted co-accused Wani of the charges of criminal conspiracy and other offences but convicted him under the Arms Act, his defence counsel told the court.

The ED submitted that conviction under the Arms Act is a triggering point to take action under the PMLA.

--IANS

akk/vd