ED summons Geelani, Yasin in over 15-yr-old forex violation cases

NEW DELHI: After nearly 15 years, two separatist leaders from Kashmir including the pro-Pakistan Syed Ali Shah Geelani have been summoned by Enforcement Directorate for alleged forex violations in the early 2000s.

The Enforcement Directorate issued summons to 87-year-old Geelani, heading hardline separatist conglomerate of Hurriyat Conference, asking him to appear at its office in Srinagar on April 3 for recording of his statement under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), sources said.

The case pertains to the recovery of USD 10,000 from his Hyderpora residence on the outskirts of Srinagar city in June 2002 during a raid by Income Tax sleuths.

Geelani's properties were assessed by the Income Tax department and a penalty of Rs 1.73 crore was raised against him. The matter is pending for adjudication.

The other separatist leader summoned is JKLF chief Yasin Malik in connection with a case of recovery of USD 0.1 million in March 2002 from a couple at Kud, a place which is middle point on Jammu and Srinagar national highway.

Mushtaq Ahmed Dar and his fiancee Shazia were arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police after the amount equivalent to Rs 48 lakh at that time was found hidden in the clothes of the woman.

Malik was arrested under the now-defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) by police after the couple claimed that the money was brought through hawala channel to be disbursed to him. He is at present out on bail in this case.

The Enforcement Directorate had registered a case under FEMA against Malik and asked him to appear before its officials on March 28 in Srinagar, the sources said.

Both the separatist leaders have been asked to bring in all the papers including Income Tax returns, if any, on the day they appear before the officials, they said.