Trial of Geelani's aide begins

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court Tuesday began the trial of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a suspected aide of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, for his alleged involvement in money laundering to fund terror.

Testifying as a prosecution witness, Delhi Police Special Cell's Inspector Kailash Singh Bisht recalled how they apprehended Bhat and others in Kashmir with the help of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Bisht said in last week of December 2010, they received information that money was being sent from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through 'hawala' channels, and a team, under the direction of Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bhisham Singh, went to Kashmir to arrest Bhat.

The court after recording the statement of Bisht listed further recording of evidence in the case for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has posted further hearing of Bhat's plea seeking quashing of charges against him for Wednesday.

Bhat approached the high court Monday challenging the trial court order dated March 3 when the NIA special court framed charges against him for committing offences under various provisions of anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Bhat, with Muhammad Sidiq Ganai, Ghulam Jeelani Liloo and Farooq Ahmed Dagga, was allegedly involved in the illegal transfer of funds through hawala channels and these funds were being used to fund terrorist activities.

Bhat was arrested from Kashmir in January 2011 by a joint team of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir Police and Rs.21 lakh was allegedly recovered from him. The Delhi Police's anti-terror unit, Special Cell, later handed over the case to NIA.