Delhi court frames money laundering charges against Tahir Hussain

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday cleared the way for trial by framing charges against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Tahir Hussain.

“Accordingly, a charge for the offence under section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, punishable under section 4 of the PMLA, is framed against Hussain, read over and explained to him to which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial,” stated the order dated January 11, by the court of additional sessions judge Amitabh Rawat.

The court added in the order that on November 3, the court had already passed an order on framing of charges against Hussain in a money-laundering case registered by Directorate of Enforcement (ED) related to a northeast Delhi riots case, which took place in 2020.

The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 10.

The same court, on November 3, 2022 observing in the order that prima facie Hussain engaged in money laundering using that money for riots stated, “In view of the above discussion, I am of the view that there is sufficient material on record, prima facie, creating grave suspicion against the accused for framing charge against him and to proceed further with the trial of the case.” It was alleged that money was put to use during the riots.

The complaint was initiated by ED in form of enforcement case information report on March 9, 2020, on the basis of three FIRs registered against him and others in connection with 2020 riots.

The court noting that Hussain “hatched a conspiracy with his associates to fraudulently withdraw money from the accounts of certain companies” owned and controlled by him through bogus transactions.