HT Correspondent , Hindustan Times

Srinagar, March 01, 2011

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Geelani-son-questioned-in-money-laundering/Article1-668196.aspx

The police on Tuesday stopped Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his son near the New Delhi airport and interrogated them in a hawala (money laundering) case. The duo was released after four hours. “Geelani and his son Nayeem Geelani were detained and not allowed to board the Srina gar-bound plane,” said Ayaz Akbar, spokesperson of the Geelani-led faction of the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference.

Geelani was asked to stay in New Delhi for questioning after Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, an alleged associate of the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen who was arrested in January, told the police of his association and financial dealings with the Hurriyat leader.

Geelani told the police he won’t go to a police station, but they could record his statement at his residence in New Delhi, Akbar said.

“He had also given a time for this morning, but the police did not turn up and later arrested him on his way to the airport at 10.15am.” He and his son were taken and quizzed at Lodhi Garden police station. Geelani will go to Kashmir on Thursday.

Earlier, Geelani said he was denied permission to go to Kashmir as the Centre feared he would stir a civil revolt similar to a recent uprising in Egypt. But Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah denied this.