NEW DELHI, Aug 26: Controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi was today sent to five-day custody of the Enforcement Directorate by a city court for “thorough investigation” in a money laundering probe against him and others.
Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj sent the accused to ED custody till August 31 after the probe agency said his custodial interrogation was required to unearth crime proceeds and money trail and to confront him with the documents.
While seeking his custody for 14 days, ED’s special prosecutor N K Matta told the court that Qureshi was in possession of more evidence in this case and was withholding them, jeopardising the probe.
“Considering the seriousness of the allegations and to enable the ED to complete thorough investigation, ED custody remand of Moin Akhtar Qureshi for five days, that is till August 31 is granted,” the court said.
The agency told the court 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 also alleged that Qureshi was involved in hawala transactions through Delhi hawala operators Parvez Ali of Turkman Gate and M/s South Delhi Money Changer (DAMINI) in Greater Kailash-1, owned by one D S Anand.
According to the agency, Qureshi was arrested late last night here under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after “he was not cooperating in the probe”.
Qureshi has been questioned several times in the past by the agency which is probing his role following the registration of two FIRs under the PMLA, the agency said, adding that he was arrested in connection with offence alleged in the last FIR in which former CBI Director A P Singh has also been named. (PTI)
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