ED Summons Farooq Abdullah In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference president has been asked to appear before the federal agency office in Srinagar on Thursday for questioning in a money laundering case.

The 86-year-old leader is an MP from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. He has been called in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

As per ED, the case involves diverting funds from the JKCA by transferring them to different personal bank accounts of individuals not associated with the organisation, including those of JKCA office bearers. Additionally, the funds were misused through unexplained cash withdrawals from JKCA bank accounts.

The case is based on a 2018 charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against six office bearers of JKCA in the case dated 21 September 2015.

The quantum of proceeds of crime identified by the ED in this case so far is Rs 51.90 crore, out of which assets worth Rs 21.55 crore have been attached by the ED.

The Congress party called it a "political vendetta" saying Abdullah being a bold leader was "bound to be punished"

"Farooq Abdullah is a tall leader. He was a Union Minister too and is a bold voice of the INDIA Alliance today. His father and he took strong political steps regarding Kashmir...So, he was bound to be punished. I think this is political vendetta," said Congress MP Pramod Tiwari.