The court's order followed a seven‑year investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, which traced a complex hawala network that allegedly funneled 8.94 crore rupees to the JKLF and its allies.
The Directorate, acting on a 2017 National Investigation Agency complaint, alleged that the funds were routed through cash couriers and the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, then distributed to separatist leaders across Kashmir.
Among those named are Kashmiri separatist leaders Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Naval Kishore Kapoor, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Masarat Alam and Abdul Rashid Sheikh, along with Yasin Malik, the JKLF's long‑time chief.
The JKLF has been banned by the Indian government since 1995, and its alleged use of foreign money to propagate secessionist propaganda has been a longstanding security concern.
The court will now file formal charges, and the accused are expected to appear in court for preliminary inquiry on June 5, 2026.