The Enforcement Directorate has lodged an FIR against persons accused of unauthorised entry and interference with a flat in Thane (West) attached in a money laundering case against Iqbal Kaskar, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The agency said it took the action as a deterrent against miscreants trespassing on properties attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and restored possession of the flat.
The ED lodged the FIR on October 15, after restoring possession of the property. The agency said the case would ensure an investigation into the trespass and enable the accused to be punished in accordance with the law.
The property had been provisionally attached through Provisional Attachment during a money laundering investigation into an extortion case involving Iqbal Kaskar and others. The ED said the investigation concerned extortion by Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, whom it described as an accused in the case.
The Adjudicating Authority subsequently confirmed the provisional attachment under Section 8(3) of the PMLA through an order dated September 29, 2022. The ED took possession of the flat on December 17, 2024.
EXTORTION INVESTIGATION LED TO ATTACHMENT OF FLAT
The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered at police station in Thane concerning allegations of extortion against, among others, Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar, Mumtaz Azaz Sheikh, also known as Raju, and Israr Ali Jamil Saiyad.
During the investigation, the agency found that the accused used threats and extortion to demand that flats be registered in their favour or at their instance.
ED RESTORES POSSESSION AFTER ALLEGED TRESPASS
The agency said it subsequently learnt that certain persons had entered the attached property, allegedly interfered with the flat’s lock and removed the possession notice. The persons also claimed ownership of the property, according to the ED.
The agency conducted inspections and enquiries and took steps to safeguard the attached asset. It also placed the matter before the Special Court under the PMLA.
The court directed the ED to restore possession of the flat, with police assistance if required. In compliance with the court’s directions and to safeguard the property, the ED changed the lock in the presence of police personnel and witnesses and restored possession.
The agency also affixed a fresh notice on the premises. The notice stated that anyone aggrieved by the action could approach either the ED office or the court conducting the trial in the case.
The ED said it registered the FIR over the alleged unauthorised entry and interference with the attached property to ensure that the incident was investigated and those responsible were punished in accordance with the law.
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