Humayun Merchant admits he struck land deals for Dawood aide Mirchi

The arrest of Iqbal Mirchi's close aide and power of attorney holder Humayun Merchant has been a big win for the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Following his interrogation, Merchant was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on Thursday. The agency has told the court that Merchant has played a "very crucial role" in illegal land deals of Iqbal Mirchi. In fact, after Dawood Ibrahim's right-hand man Iqbal Mirchi escaped from India, Merchant worked as his frontman. Merchant played a very important role in bringing in dummy tenants for three properties — Sea View, Mariam Lodge, and Rabia Mansion — in Mumbai. These properties were handed over to Iqbal Mirchi from Sir Mohammad Yusuf Trust. 

'Certain payments were made to Iqbal Mirchi'

The agency has recorded the statement of various people in the case which includes one Ajay Vazirani, Partner in Hariani &Co. This firm allegedly facilitated the payment to Iqbal Mirchi in Dubai. According to the agency, "certain payments were made to Iqbal Mirchi" for the above-mentioned properties through bank accounts opened through fake KYC documents in Chennai. The bank concerned, IDBI Bank, has registered a case with Chennai police". 

ED has told the court that the "investigation is underway to trace the proceeds of crime and attach the same. As such, this Directorate is examining the transactions to establish the money trail and trace the ultimate beneficiaries of proceeds of crime so generated. The same appears to have been laundered to Dubai through various modes."

Merchant admitted that he received payment of Rs. 5 cr 

For the above-mentioned properties in Mumbai, Merchant arranged for a meeting between a Mumbai-based developer Jayant Soni and Iqbal Mirchi in London. Merchant has admitted that he had arranged the dummy tenants in the buildings which were found to be his close relatives. He has told the agency that he had received payment of Rs. 5 crore in his bank account from Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd and transferred the same to the accounts of Iqbal Mirchi's son Junaid Memon.

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Merchant mediated a deal on behalf of Iqbal Mirchi 

The investigation has also revealed that the deal between Iqbal Memon and Joy Home Creations was mediated by Humayun Merchant on behalf of Iqbal Mirchi. The deal between Iqbal Mirchi and Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd was also mediated by Humayun Merchant on behalf of Iqbal Mirchi. The agency maintains that Merchant received huge amounts on behalf of Iqbal Mirchi for the above-mentioned deals.

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