PMLA: Court takes cognisance of charge sheet against Moin Qureshi

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate(ED) today chargesheeted controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi in connection with a money laundering case in a city court.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj took cognisance of the charge sheet and issued production warrant for October 25 against Qureshi, who is in judicial custody.

"In view of the averments made in the complaint (charge sheeet), cognisance of the offence under...Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is taken against the accused...

"Accused 1 (Qureshi) is already remanded to judicial custody till October 25. Let him be produced in court now on October 25, the date already fixed. Production warrants be issued for his appearance before the court for the set date," the judge said.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta, appearing for ED, argued that further investigation against other persons was also being undertaken.

The ED complaint has substantiated the charges of alleged money laundering against Qureshi, who was arrested on August 25 and sent to ED custody by the trial court the next day for thorough probe in the case against him and others.

The probe agency had earlier claimed that "the witnesses have confirmed in their statements that they have delivered crores of rupees for Qureshi and his associates through his employees and one of the witnesses has stated that nearly Rs 1.75 crore have been exported by the accused from him and his friend in lieu of the help provided to him in a CBI case."

It had also alleged that Qureshi was involved in hawala transactions through Delhi hawala operators.

Earlier Qureshi had moved a bail application claiming he was falsely implicated and there was no possibility of him fleeing from justice as he had deep roots in the society.