Kashmir’s Top Nine Hoteliers Summoned by ED in Suspected Money Laundering Probe

According to local news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), those summoned include leading figures from the region’s hospitality sector: Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai, popularly known as Chaya, associated with the Grand Mumtaz and Radisson Group; Mushtaq Ahmad Burza and Manzoor Ahmad Burza of the ITC Group; Nazir Ahmad Mir of M&Co; Manzoor Ahmad Khan of Hotel Khalil Palace; Abdul Hamid Dar of Hotel Mama Palace; Syed Musadiq Shah of Hotel Royal Park; Ibrahim Khan of Kolahoi Greens; and Sadaf Shah of Hotel Alpine Ridge.

Sources indicate that the ED has directed the hoteliers to appear before the agency beginning Monday, with one individual scheduled for questioning each day. The summons require them to furnish extensive financial and property-related documentation. This includes bank account details, records of movable and immovable assets, revenue documents, lease agreements, and income tax returns for the past five years.

A key focus of the probe appears to be documentation related to applications filed under the now-defunct Jammu & Kashmir Roshni Act. The ED has specifically sought records connected to land ownership claims, lease deeds, and revenue entries, suggesting a deeper scrutiny of how ownership rights were obtained.

The notices have been issued under Sections 50(2) and 50(3) of the PMLA, which empower the agency to summon individuals, enforce attendance, and require the production of records. The notices emphasise that such proceedings are deemed judicial in nature under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. They also warn of penal consequences in case of non-compliance.

One of the summoned hoteliers, Mushtaq Chaya, confirmed that while he did not appear personally before the ED on the first day, he had submitted all the required documents to the agency. He maintained that he had complied with the summons in terms of documentation.

Although the ED has not publicly disclosed the specific Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) number or detailed allegations, the nature of documents sought strongly indicates that the investigation is linked to controversial land transfers in Gulmarg under the erstwhile Roshni scheme.

The origins of the case can be traced back to FIR No. 08/2009, initially registered by the Vigilance Organisation Kashmir, now known as the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The FIR alleged a criminal conspiracy involving public officials and private beneficiaries in the transfer of ownership rights over prime state land.

Investigators had claimed that records were manipulated and statutory procedures bypassed to confer ownership rights. Charge sheets in the case reportedly identified several beneficiaries—some of whom are now among those summoned by the ED.

At the centre of the controversy is the alleged illegal vesting of ownership rights over approximately 35 kanals and six marlas (approximately 4.5 acres of high-value land in Gulmarg. Authorities had earlier alleged that these transfers violated provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act, 2001.

The ED’s current action signals a financial probe into these transactions, examining whether proceeds of crime were generated or laundered through the acquisition and development of such properties.

The summoning of leading hoteliers marks a notable escalation in the long-running investigation into the Roshni land cases, particularly in high-profile tourist areas like Gulmarg. Given the stature of those involved and the economic significance of the hospitality sector in Kashmir, the case is likely to draw sustained public and institutional attention.

The outcome of the ED’s probe could have far-reaching implications, not only for the individuals under scrutiny but also for land governance and regulatory enforcement in the Union Territory, experts said.