Key suspect in Delhi riots now under Enforcement Directorate lens

Bhavatosh Singh
Updated Jul 07, 2020 | 11:00 IST

Faisal Farooque has been chargesheeted by the Delhi Police in the riots case. He is called one of the main conspirators. Delhi Police has shared details of his assets with the ED.

Delhi Riots (File Pic)
Delhi Riots (File Pic)  |  Photo Credit: IANS

Key Highlights

  • ED has registered a case under PMLA and is probing who financed rioters in February.
  • On June 23, ED had carried out raids at Tahir Hussain's places.
  • ED suspects hawala channels were used to finance rioters.

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has shared details of Faisal Farooque's financial assets and properties with the Enforcement Directorate. During the probe, it was found that Faisal reportedly owns three schools and around a dozen properties in north-east Delhi.

Delhi Police claims that Faisal is one of the main conspirators of the Delhi riots. He has already been chargesheeted. Details of his properties and bank accounts have been shared with the Enforcement Directorate. The ED is carrying out a separate money-laundering probe in the Delhi riot cases. 

It is being suspected hawala channels were used to provide funds to rioters. Funding of Delhi riots is being looked into by the ED. The probe agency is trying to find out whether key players like Faisal and Tahir funded the rioters. Both the ED and the Delhi Police are also probing the source of financing of anti-Citizen Amendment Act protests in the Capital between December 2019- February 2020

ED has filed two cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act including one against suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain.

Agencies are investigating how Faisal acquired so much wealth to run schools and purchase properties. It is estimated that total assets of Faisal could run into multiple crores of rupees.

During the probe, it has been found that Faisal had links with Abdul Aleem a close associate of Mulana Mohammed Saad who heads Tablighi Jamaat. Crime branch claims Abdul Aleem was in constant touch with Faisal Farooque.

In April, ED had also filed a money laundering case against Saad and others. On June 23, the ED had raided six places in Delhi and Noida which reportedly belongs to Tahir Hussain. During the probe under PMLA, the ED had found suspicious bank transactions by Tahir during January. Over Rs 1.10 crores were transferred from his two companies to six shell companies.

Faisal is also the owner of Rajdhani Public School which was used by rioters to launch an attack. The rioters had put up an improvised catapult, on the terrace of the school, which was used to throw stones, acid bottles and crude bombs in adjacent plots. On Monday the crime branch got his custodial remand in a separate riot case.

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