ED Summons Nine Prominent Gulmarg Hoteliers in Alleged Land Scam Money Laundering Probe
Srinagar, June 15: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned nine prominent hoteliers from Gulmarg, including noted hotelier Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai alias Chaya, as part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) linked to alleged irregularities in land transactions in the world-famous tourist resort.
Sources said the ED has directed the hoteliers to appear before the agency and furnish financial, property, and revenue-related records. The summons seek details of bank accounts, movable and immovable assets, lease deeds, revenue records, income tax returns for the past five years, and documents related to applications filed under the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Roshni Act.
Among those summoned are Mushtaq Ahmad Ganai (Chaya) of 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.
The summons have been issued under Sections 50(2) and 50(3) of the PMLA, empowering the agency to seek evidence and documents during investigations. The notices warn that failure to comply may invite penal action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Speaking on the matter, Mushtaq Chaya confirmed that he had submitted all documents sought by the agency but did not appear personally before the ED on Monday.
Although the summons do not specify the exact Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) or allegations under examination, officials believe the probe is linked to controversial land transfers in Gulmarg allegedly carried out under the erstwhile Roshni Scheme.
The investigation is understood to stem from a 2009 vigilance case, now being pursued by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), concerning alleged irregular conferment of ownership rights over prime state land in Gulmarg. Investigators had earlier alleged that ownership rights over approximately 35 kanals and six marlas of land were granted in violation of statutory provisions governing state land.
The ED is now examining whether the alleged land transfers resulted in unlawful financial gains that could qualify as proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.