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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken possession of the land in Grant Road East, where the New Roshan Talkies once stood, as part of its investigation into the assets of the late Iqbal Mirchi, an alleged narcotics trafficker. The cinema hall, which had been demolished, was attached by the ED in October 2020, along with several other properties and bank funds, as part of a money laundering probe. Recently, the ED acted to secure physical possession of the site after reports of illegal encroachment efforts. The agency is also investigating the potential antique value of old film reels and whether the building had heritage status.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has gained control over a plot of land in Grant Road East, once home to the New Roshan Talkies, previously owned by the family of late alleged narcotics trafficker Iqbal Mirchi. This action forms part of the ED's investigation into his assets linked to money laundering. Advertisement
The land is situated on the bustling Patthe Bapurao Marg, surrounded by popular eateries and a mix of commercial and residential properties in Girgaum. The ED had attached the 95-year old cinema hall during the Covid-19 pandemic when it was not in operation. Mirchi's kin have been attempting to sell the land since then.
Upon reaching the property site recently, accompanied by an armed Central Reserve Police Force squad, the ED team found that the single-screen cinema hall had been demolished. They indicated that the agency is considering legal measures, including filing a case against those responsible for demolishing the theatre on the attached property.
Back in October 2020, the ED had provisionally attached seven immovable properties, including the then 90-year-old New Roshan Talkies, and seven bank accounts, with a total value of INR 22.42 crore. This brought the total value of assets provisionally attached by the ED to about INR 798 crore.
Following this, the ED's attachment of New Roshan Talkies was officially confirmed by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Adjudicating Authority. However, subsequent proceedings, including those relating to the ED's physical possession of the property, were paused by the PMLA Appellate Tribunal in Delhi. Recently, the ED received reports suggesting attempts to establish third-party rights on the property via illegal encroachment. In response, the ED urgently petitioned the PMLA Appellate Tribunal in Delhi to lift the stay on possession, which was granted. Subsequently, on December 4, 2024, the ED invoked PMLA section 8(4) to take physical control of the land.
The ED is also investigating whether old film reels with potential antique value were discarded as junk and whether the cinema hall's structure was listed as a heritage building. Additionally, the agency is verifying whether the necessary legal permissions were obtained from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) by those responsible for demolishing the theatre.
This is the second property of Mirchi in ED's possession, following the acquisition of premises in Ceejay House building in Worli, where the agency has since established its offices.
According to the agency, Mirchi acquired multiple properties using the proceeds of drug trafficking between 1970 and till his death in London in 2013. Following his death, these properties were transferred to his sons and his first wife, Hajra Memon, through gift deeds. New Roshan Talkies was among them.
The cinema hall was built around 1930 and Mirchi bought it in 1982. Initially, his elder brother operated it, and then his brother-in-law, Mukhtar Patka, took over the property. ED had earlier said in its chargesheet that Mirchi executed hawala operations with the help of his associates from the premises of the cinema hall.
The gangster fled India in the early 1990s to avoid arrest in multiple cases registered against him in India. In London, he lived with his second wife, former actress Hina Kausar, the stepdaughter of film director K Asif, while Hajra Memon lived in Dubai with her children.
In conclusion, this action, coupled with the ED's earlier seizures of properties and funds, underscores the agency's commitment to recovering assets linked to criminal activities. As the investigation delves deeper into the history of the property and the individuals involved, the ED's efforts aim not only to unravel the extent of Mirchi's illegal wealth but also to ensure accountability for those complicit in concealing his ill-gotten assets.
Source: Times of India
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