Zameer Ahmed Khan
Bengaluru, Nov 21 – In a significant setback to Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan, the Karnataka High Court has dismissed his petition seeking the quashing of proceedings initiated against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case alleges that Khan possesses assets disproportionate to his known source of income.
The single-judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna stated that a perusal of the source information report and communication under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act would prima facie bring Khan under the ambit of Section 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The prosecution’s case involves a complaint registered on June 9, 2019, against the promoter of I-Monetary Advisory Private Limited, Mohammed Mansoor Khan, for offences under Sections 420 and 120B of the IPC. The Enforcement Directorate also registered a case based on the same. During the investigation, Khan’s role surfaced, leading to searches at his office and residence.
Khan argued that the crime was loosely registered, with no preliminary inquiry, source report, or permission from the Competent Authority. The court rejected this argument, stating that the Enforcement Directorate’s information had statutory credence under Section 66(2).
The court emphasized that the crime against Khan was registered in connection with the promoter of IMA, and the Enforcement Directorate’s information had preceded the FIR registration. It suspended the operation of its order for 30 days, considering the pending petition challenging the refusal of interim stay in the Supreme Court.
The case adds another layer to the ongoing legal battles involving political figures, showcasing the intersection of corruption allegations and statutory processes.
