Delhi Court Sets Trial Date for Yasin Malik and Others in ₹8.94 crore Terror-Funding Case

In a September decision, a Delhi court found sufficient prima facie material to raise strong suspicion against seven accused, including Kashmiri separatist Yasin Malik and Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid. On Friday, Special Judge Prashant Sharma ordered the trial to proceed, with prosecution evidence recording slated for November 19. The Enforcement Directorate alleges the defendants funneled ₹8.94 crore through Pakistan-linked hawala networks to finance secessionist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, citing cash couriers from the Pakistan High Commission and contributions recovered from accountant Ghulam Mohd Bhat.

Emails purportedly show Malik building an overseas fundraising network for the JKLF. The National Investigation Agency’s earlier case, which led to Malik’s 2022 conviction, also links him to illegal foreign contributions, including ₹15.75 lakh from Saudi Arabia in 2013. Malik entered a not-guilty plea via video from Tihar Jail and said he will contest the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.