ED requests Bombay High Court to cancel Amir Gazdar's bail

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) appealed to the HC to cancel the bail of fugitive televangelist Zakir Naik's right hand man Amir Gazdar. Gazdar is the only accused arrested by the ED in the money laundering case involving Naik. A special PMLA court released him on bail in April citing his non-involvement in laundering, contrary to ED’s investigation.

Sources in the ED said that the PMLA court had stated in its order that Gazdar had not laundered Naik’s money, but he was the person who played a pivotal role and had received funds to the tune of around Rs 200 crore from Naik between 2013 and 2016 which he had laundered systematically. ED had arrested Gazdar in February and was released on bail on July 12. ED moved to the HC last week to get Gazdar’s bail cancelled.   

“The grounds of Gazdar not being involved in laundering  is untrue as money was sent to him and he moved funds for Naik. The PMLA court also stated that Gazdar was not named in the NIA’s if he had played a role in handlinghis finances, however, this is a predicated offence and new accused would come forward as the probe advances, which cannot be forgotten,” said a ED officer requesting anonymity.