The Enforcement Directorate’s Lucknow Zonal Office has filed a chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against former MLA Arif Anwar Hashmi and his wife Rozi Salma. The complaint was submitted before the Special Judge, CBI/ED, Lucknow on February 23.
The charges are based on multiple FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police against Hashmi and his associates for various offenses including illegal encroachment, forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. Investigations revealed significant unaccounted cash deposits in the couple’s bank accounts, inconsistent with their reported income sources.
The accused allegedly generated proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 8.24 crore through the scheduled offenses. The ED had earlier attached 21 immovable properties valued at Rs 8.24 crore belonging to Hashmi and Salma, located in Balrampur, Lucknow, and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The prosecution complaint aims to proceed against the accused for money laundering under the PMLA, linking the attached properties directly to the proceeds of crime. The ED’s ongoing investigation focuses on examining financial trails and associates related to the case.
