Terror funding: ED files charge sheet against Hafiz Saeed

Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed in connection with a money-laundering probe related to a terror-funding case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that it has filed a charge sheet against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, one of his Pakistani associates, a Delhi-based hawala dealer and others in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged terror financing case.

The agency's case is based on a National Investigation Agency complaint filed against the accused and Pakistan-based organisation Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF).

"The prosecution complaint (charge sheet) has been filed against Indian national Mohd Salman, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (founder of LeT, Jamaat-Ud-Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniyat foundation), his deputy Shahid Mehmood, Dubai-based Pakistani Mohd Kamran and Mohd Salim alias Mama, a Delhi-based hawala operator under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in an ongoing investigation linked to a terror-financing case," the ED said in a statement.

Mohd Salman is involved in receiving funds from FIF operators and his associates through the hawala (illegal funds transfer) channel, the agency claimed.

"FIF is a Pakistan-based terror organisation established by Jamat-ud-Dawa. It was founded by Hafiz Saeed," it said.

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FIF has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations in March 2012 while Saeed is already designated as a global terrorist by the UN.

"The FIF is nothing but a front end organisation of JuD and LeT that was formed to evade security and sanctions. The Indian government has designated FIF as a terrorist organisation in August 2016."

"LeT seeks to raise funds and build a network through FIF for further terror activities," it said.

The ED said that its probe found that "funds were re-routed from Pakistan to Dubai and further to India through hawala channels."

"Mohd Salman was the recipient of funds sent by Mohd Kamran and his associates Abdul Aziz Behlim and Arif Gulambashir Dharampuria in Dubai," it said.

"Concerning the inflow of funds from Dubai, the quantum of funds that Mohd Salman was receiving from Mohd Kamran and his associates in Dubai through hawala channels has been quantified based on emails, receipts and registers maintained by accused."

"Mohd Salman used the funds received from abroad for the construction of Masjid at Uttawar in Palwal district of Haryana and for conducting the marriage of poor girls in and around this village," it said.

The agency had earlier attached a Rs 73.12 lakh worth immovable property of Salman in Delhi in this case.

Salman and Mohd Salim are currently in judicial custody.

The US Department of State had called FIF as an alias of LeT in November 2010.

"This was done to stem the flow of finances and resources through FIF to LeT and also to prosecute those knowingly provide funds and material support to these terror organisations."

"The humanitarian front, religious and charity work being projected by FIF are only to create a disguise in the minds of people and states. Their main aim is to provide and collect funds, to create a network, sleeper cells and to motivate youth to join terrorism," the ED said.

PTI report

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