Farooq moves HC against ED order to attach his properties

SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah’s plea against an ED order attaching his properties in a case of alleged money laundering came up before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday but was posted for hearing on March 8 after the judge recused himself.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had challenged the Enforcement Directorate’s December 2020 order before the HC on Wednesday. The case will now be heard on Monday before a new judge.

Justice Ali Mohammed Magrey recused himself saying that he has declined hearing similar matters in the past. The ED has alleged that Abdullah “misused” his position as president of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) from 2001-2011 and made appointments in the sports body so Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sponsored funds could be laundered.

Abdullah said the list of properties — worth almost ₹12 crore — attached by the ED in Kashmir and in Jammu were unrelated to the alleged criminal activity mentioned in the Final Report/ FIR and termed it a “continuing violation of his fundamental rights”.

Party MP Hasnain Masoodi said the properties were either ancestral or acquired before the alleged offence took place. Abdullah has raised the validity of the ED in the case. He said in his petition that on the date of the registration of the ECIR (Enforcement Commission Information Report) and the initiation of investigation, the state of J&K was governed by the Constitution of J&K, 1956, and had special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India.