Overview
- The Enforcement Directorate filed an FIR on August 5 at the VP Road police station accusing Abdul Kader of encroaching on and demolishing the century-old New Roshan Talkies, which it had provisionally attached under the PMLA in October 2020.
- Investigators allege Kader razed the defunct single-screen cinema in September 2024 and entered a ₹15 crore sale agreement, collecting a ₹99 lakh token payment without legal ownership documents.
- VP Road police arrested and remanded Kader on charges including criminal trespass, cheating, mischief causing damage to property, and disobedience to a public servant’s order.
- The ED’s probe links the property to proceeds from Iqbal Mirchi’s alleged drug-trafficking and money-laundering network, part of assets worth nearly ₹979 crore attached in the ongoing investigation.
- Agency officials are preparing contempt proceedings and court motions to restore physical possession of the seized site and may summon the purchaser to recover assets.