Charges framed against businessman and his family

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) A court here today framed charges against a city businessman and his five family members in Rs.40 lakh Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation case, an offshoot of the infamous multicrore fodder scam case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamini Lau said there is sufficient material on record to frame charges for the the offences punishable under FERA against all the accused.

The court also issued a production warrant against main accused Vijay Kumar Malik,currently lodged in a Ranchi jail in connection with the fodder scam case, seeking his presence in the court by August 9.

Navin Kumar Matta, the counsel for Enforcement Directorate, said a prima facie case of money laundering was registered against Malik, his wife Kamal Malik, mother Leelawanti, brother Vipin and cousin Sandip and Rajeev.

In March 1999, a Division Bench of the Patna High Court during the hearing of the fodder scam had directed the Enforcement Directorate to probe the matter.

The High Court was informed that a huge amount of scam money was routed abroad through Hawala and the beneficiaries were trying to bring the money by taking refuge under the 1991- 92 immunity scheme through which anybody could bring foreign exchange into the country without disclosing its source.

UNI