The income tax department Sunday seized more than Rs 14 lakh from separatist leader Aga Syed Hassan Almosvi Alsafvi at the Srinagar airport on his return from New Delhi, an official said. Alsafvi is the president of Anjuman-e-Sharie-Shian and a senior leader of the Hurriyat Conference (G).
An official of the income tax department said Rs 14.5 lakhwere recovered from the leader following specific information.
“He was intercepted by election squad of income taxdepartment,” the senior income tax department official told Greater Kashmir,adding Alsafvi was traveling from New Delhi to Srinagar.
“Now he will be issued notices to explain the source of themoney.” The official said that in case Alsafvi was not able to explain thesource of the money, the recovered amount will be formally seized and furtheraction taken.
“He will be given multiple chances to explain where from hegot the money,” the official said.
He explained that Alsafvi was caught with the money by asquad of Election Commission officers and income tax department officialsduring routine election time checks of candidates and party workers who usehelicopter services.
“He (Alsafvi) was caught in the same exercise.”
Under the guidelines, income tax department official said if a passenger is found carrying more than Rs 10 lakh then the income tax department is notified and officials will check the source of the money.
During election time income tax officials are stationed with EC teams at some airports. In September 2017, National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the residence of Alsafvi in connection with a funding case.