New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted multi-city searches in connection with a money laundering case filed against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, trusts linked to the Jamaat and others, officials said.
They said various premises in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and a few other locations are being raided to collect evidence.
The action is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said.
The central probe agency had filed a money laundering case in April against Maulana Saad and others after it took cognizance of a Delhi Police complaint against these entities.
The Delhi Police crime branch had on March 31 lodged an FIR against seven people, including the cleric, on a complaint by the station house officer (SHO) of Nizamuddin police station for holding a congregation of Tablighi Jamaat followers in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Maulana Saad was alleged to have organized the religious gathering in March at Nizamuddin Markaz in violation of the social distancing protocol imposed by the Centre to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The ED later took over the case and is looking at the personal finances and charges of alleged money laundering against Maulana Saad and some other office bearers and associates of the Tablighi Jamaat.
Certain donations received by the Islamic organization from foreign and domestic sources are also under the scanner of the agency.
