ED interrogates Mehbooba Mufti for hours in Srinagar

SRINAGAR — The Enforcement Department (ED) on Thursday questioned the former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti for five hours in Srinagar in a case related to money laundering.

Notably, Mehbooba had last evening confirmed that she will appear before the ED at its Srinagar office at 11:00 AM in the morning.

Mehbooba reached ED office at around 11:00 AM where she was questioned for nearly five hours and was allowed to go at around 4:35 PM.

Pertinently, ED had issued summon to Mehbooba Mufti on March 5 this year, asking her to appear before the agency for questioning in a money laundering case in New Delhi on March 15.

ED later asked her to appear at its headquarters in New Delhi for questioning on March 22 after Delhi High Court on March 19 refused to stay summons issued to her by the Central agency.

Dissent has been ‘criminalized’ in India, says Mehbooba

The former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief on Thursday said that dissent has been criminalized in the country, saying that there will be no change in the party’s strategy over fighting for the rights of people including the restoration of Article 370.

“One who speaks against you (Government of India) is being either booked under seditious charges or being summoned by the investigative agencies,” Mehbooba said after nearly five-hour-long questioning by Enforcement Department (ED) here in Srinagar with regard to the money laundering case.

“I was questioned about my father’s property in Bijbehara, which we have sold out and was asked how you sold it and other related things. Second about the funds during her tenure as Chief Minister,” she said, adding that she has nothing to hide as she is pure.

Mehbooba further stated that there will be no change in the party’s stance over the fight for the rights of Jammu and Kashmir people, especially regarding the restoration of Article 370.