Jaffar Sadiq, was arrested in March by the Central Narcotics Control Bureau officials in Delhi for allegedly smuggling drugs to countries including Australia and amassing Rs 2,000 crore. Following his arrest, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took him into custody for his involvement in illegal money transfers and detained him in Chennai’s Puzhal Central Prison.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Zafar Sadiq’s wife, Amina Banu, 32, and his brother, Mohammad Saleem, 34, were also involved in the illegal money laundering activities. The two had filed anticipatory bail petitions in the Madras High Court, but these were rejected, leading them to go into hiding.
Recently, ED officials apprehended Mohammad Saleem. He was presented before Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli in Chennai yesterday morning.
During the court proceedings, Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh, representing the ED, argued that the two brothers had invested crores of rupees, acquired through drug trafficking, into shell companies. He further stated that they had purchased immovable assets with illegal funds and that there was substantial evidence and documentation proving their involvement in money laundering.
On behalf of Mohammad Saleem, advocate K.M. Kalisaran contended that his client had fully cooperated with the investigation and that his arrest was unnecessary.
After hearing both sides, the judge ordered that Mohammad Saleem be remanded in judicial custody until August 27. Additionally, the ED has filed a petition seeking permission to take Saleem into custody for 15 days for further interrogation.