New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday attached three properties belonging to businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district in connection with a terror funding case, officials said.
Notably, Watali was arrested by the NIA in 2017 under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
According to the officials, a team of the NIA attached the immovable properties in the name of Watali at villages Baghatpora and Kachwari in the Handwara area of the north Kashmir district.
The properties include land in the name of Watali, an accused in the terror funding case, the officials said.
They said the properties were attached following an order by the Special NIA Court in New Delhi on May 31.
As per the notice of attachment, "This is to inform all members of the public Cl; and the immovable properties i.e., lands measuring (1)13.3 Marlas under Survey No.. 457 min., (ii) 8.6 Marlas under Survey No. 458 min. and (iii) 01 Kanal and 10.3 Marlas under Survey No. 991/453 min., at Village Baghatpora, Handwara, District Kupwara. (J&K), in the name of accused Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali S/o Late Ghulam Nabi Shah Watali, Add: Watali House, Bhagat near Gurudwara, Srinagar, p&K), and Permanent Add: Village Kachwari, Handwara, District Kupwara, has been attached under the Court Orders dated 31st May 2023, in RC-10/ 2017/ NIA/ DLI, by the Special NIA Court, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi."
A trial court had in May last year framed charges against Watali and others in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court listed for August 3, Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali's plea challenging charges framed by the trial court against him in a terror financing case being investigated by National Investigation Agency.
Watali was moved out of jail in February last year and placed under house arrest on medical grounds.