Seeks Financial, Property Records in Alleged Gulmarg Land Transfer Irregularities Linked to Roshni Act
Srinagar, June 16: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned nine prominent hoteliers from Gulmarg, including Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai alias Chaya, in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in land transactions under the erstwhile J&K Roshni Act.
Official sources said the summons were issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of the agency’s probe into the alleged illegal transfer of prime State land in the famous tourist resort of Gulmarg.
Apart from Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai, those summoned include Mushtaq Ahmad Burza and Manzoor Ahmad Burza of the ITC Group, Nazir Ahmad Mir of M&Co, Manzoor Ahmad Khan of Hotel Khalil Palace, Abdul Hamid Dar of Hotel Mama Palace, Syed Musadiq Shah of Pride Resort, Ibrahim Khan of Kolahoi Greens and Sadaf Shah of Hotel Alpine Ridge.
The ED has directed the hoteliers to appear before the agency from June 15 onwards, with one individual scheduled to appear each day. They have also been asked to furnish a comprehensive set of financial and property-related documents, including records pertaining to applications filed under the erstwhile Roshni scheme.
According to the summons issued under Sections 50(2) and 50(3) of the PMLA, the agency has sought details of bank accounts, movable and immovable assets, revenue records, lease deeds, income tax returns for the last five years, and documents relating to applications submitted under the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act, 2001, commonly known as the Roshni Act.
The notices further stated that proceedings under Section 50 of the PMLA are deemed judicial proceedings under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and warned that failure to comply with the summons or produce the required records could attract penal action under the PMLA and other relevant laws.
Sources said Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai, Chairman and Managing Director of the Mushtaq Group of Hotels, which operates hospitality properties in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Delhi, was scheduled to appear before the ED on Tuesday. However, he reportedly did not appear in person and instead submitted the documents sought by the investigating agency through authorised representatives.
The documents submitted are understood to include Roshni applications, land ownership records and lease deeds, indicating that the investigation is focused on controversial land transfers allegedly carried out under the now-repealed Roshni scheme in Gulmarg.
The money laundering investigation traces its roots to FIR No. 08/2009 registered by the then Vigilance Organisation Kashmir, now the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which alleged a criminal conspiracy involving public servants and private beneficiaries in the conferment of ownership rights over valuable State land in Gulmarg by manipulating official records and bypassing statutory procedures.
According to the chargesheet filed by the ACB before the competent court, officials and private beneficiaries allegedly conspired in 2008 to transfer ownership rights of State land to selected beneficiaries by misusing provisions of the Roshni Act and abusing official positions.
The chargesheet further alleged that ownership rights over approximately 35 kanals and six marlas of prime land in Gulmarg were vested in favour of beneficiaries in violation of the provisions of the Act.
The ED is now examining whether the alleged illegal transfer of the land resulted in the generation of illicit wealth and financial gains that may qualify as “proceeds of crime” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.(KNC)
