The Indian Express, November 6, 2019
Money laundering case: ED opposes bail plea of Yusuf, says he was acting on behalf of Mirchi
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that an original bank passbook and Income Tax documents of a Mumbai-based trust show that it was a ‘mere cover’ for late gangster Iqbal Memon alias Mirchi for three properties in Worli worth over Rs 200 crore. In its reply filed on Monday, opposing the bail application of Haroun Yusuf, who was the chairman of Mohamed Yusuf Trust, the ED said a letter was recovered, written by the Trust to the I-T department in 1994, which shows that an amount was received for the sale of the three properties.
Deals of the three properties — Rabia Mansion, Maryam Lodge and Sea View — in Worli, were allegedly struck with Mirchi in 1986 but to ensure that they are not attached as proceeds of crime after Mirchi was declared an absconding accused in cases filed against him, the ‘real ownership’ was hidden, the ED claimed. Excerpts from the letter states that the Trust “is not at all aware of who are the present tenants or occupants or what amount of rent is payable by them and to whom”.
“The letter written by Trust to Income Tax once again affirms that the Trust was a mere cover of Mirchi, acting as per his directions. The present accused (Yusuf) was acting on behalf of Mirchi,” the ED has claimed. The ED also claimed that the possession of the buildings was taken in a phased manner from 1986 to 2005 by Mirchi and a deal was struck for their sale in 2010.
The ED said that Yusuf “misled” various judicial forums in connivance with Mirchi as an original passbook of the Trust also shows that the payment was made in its favour. The ED has also referred to a ‘caretaker agreement’ between Mirchi and Yusuf in 1999, according to which, the Trust had agreed to sell and transfer the property pursuant to its deal in 1986. The ED has claimed that when asked about this attempt by Yusuf to act as a ‘pseudo holder’ of Mirchi to hoodwink the law enforcement agencies, he gave no response. Claiming that it was a grave economic offence and that the probe was on, the ED opposed his bail plea.
The ED has also opposed the bail plea of Ranjeet Singh Bindra, the alleged broker, who had regulated and brokered the deal between Mirchi and Sunblink Real Estate that subsequently purchased the properties. The ED said that Bindra played a crucial role in generating and laundering of the money from the three properties.
The arguments on the pleas will be heard later this week. Other accused, Humayun Merchant, an alleged aide of Mirchi, has also filed for bail. While Bindra and Yusuf were arrested on October 11, Merchant was arrested on October 22.
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