ED summons nine prominent Kashmir hoteliers in alleged money laundering probe

India's Enforcement Directorate has intensified its crackdown on alleged financial irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir, summoning nine prominent Gulmarg hoteliers, including the influential Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai alias Chaya, in a high-stakes money laundering probe. The investigation zeroes in on alleged illicit land transactions, primarily linked to the now-defunct Jammu & Kashmir Roshni Act, which critics have long branded a land scam. This move signals a significant escalation in the ED scrutiny of the region's powerful business and political nexus. The probe, initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), demands hoteliers, including those associated with major chains like Grand Mumtaz, Radisson Group, and ITC Group, submit extensive financial and property documents, with appearances scheduled to commence this week. At the heart of the matter are allegations that prime state land in Gulmarg was illegally transferred and ownership rights conferred through manipulated records and bypassed statutory procedures, generating 'proceeds of crime'. This investigation traces its origins to a 2009 FIR by the erstwhile Vigilance Organisation Kashmir, making it a long-unfolding saga now reaching a critical juncture. With Mushtaq Chaya, a key figure in the JK Hoteliers Club, confirming submission of documents while opting against personal appearance on the first day, the agency's actions underline a stringent enforcement posture, warning of penal consequences for non-compliance under the PMLA and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. This high-profile action against leading figures in Kashmir's crucial tourism sector is expected to send ripples across the local economy and sets a precedent for how past land deals will be scrutinized under current legal frameworks.