Meat exporter Moin Qureshi, whose business dealings are under the scanner of the Income-Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate, was detained at Indira Gandhi International airport here on Friday night, on the basis of a lookout circular issued by the ED.
Court documents However, Mr. Qureshi was later allowed to board a flight to Dubai after brief questioning, during which he showed to the immigration officials court documents granting him permission to visit abroad after he furnished a bond. The ED had earlier summoned the businessman for questioning in connection with a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act last year.
The agency initially launched a probe against Mr. Qureshi for suspected violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. However, following preliminary investigations, the money laundering case was registered.
The ED launched money-laundering probe on the basis of a charge sheet filed against Mr. Qureshi in an alleged tax evasion case. Searches were also conducted at his residence.
The agencies suspect that the businessman transferred huge sums through the Hawala channel to Dubai, London and other European destinations. According to the I-T Department, during searches it came across information on 11 bank lockers allegedly operated on his behalf. The agency had seized Rs.11.26 crore and jewellery worth over Rs.8 crore.