A special court in Mumbai has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) permission to record statements of 19 accused currently lodged in various jails across India, facilitating a deeper investigation into a money laundering case linked to a terror conspiracy previously probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The accused under investigation include the deceased Saqib Nachan.
ED's submission
The ED submitted that it is necessary to confront the accused with material collected during the investigation, including financial records, bank transactions, and other documentary evidence, to ascertain the role of each accused in the money laundering offence. The investigation stems from an Enforcement Case Information Report registered in 2025, which followed a predicate offence involving ISIS members and sympathisers operating in Delhi and bordering areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Allegations against the accused
The prosecution submitted that the accused were involved in a criminal conspiracy, taking an oath of allegiance to the ISIS Khalifa. Saqib Nachan, described as the main conspirator and a habitual offender, allegedly continued his activities after his release in 2017. The investigating agency argued that he radicalised youth and organised weapon training under the guise of religious teachings.
Court order
The order directs the superintendents of prisons in New Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur to facilitate ED's visits. The court permitted ED officers to use electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones, for the recording process, which is scheduled to take place between June and August 2026.
