Hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning at its Srinagar office on December 18 in an alleged money laundering case.
The case is regarding the seizure of $10,000 by the Income Tax department during a raid at Geelani's residence at Hyderpora in Srinagar in 2001.
It remains to be seen whether Geelani will appear before the ED due to his ailing health and continued house arrest.
Sources said Geelani has been advised by his close aides to consult a lawyer.
Geelani has been highly critical of the state and Centre government's handling of the Kashmir issue and has been repeatedly demanding the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir.
Last year, he, along with Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, formed the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) to lead the uprising triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani and two of his associates on July 8.
The three have refused to meet the Centre's special representative on Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma and called his appointment a farce.
In November, the ED had also issued notice to Malik regarding the seizure of Rs 48.23 lakh from one of his aides, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar and his wife Shamima alias Shazia aias Bitti, in 2002.
Seven middle rung separatists, including Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Ahmed Fantoosh and Mirwaiz's spokesman Aftab Hilali, have already been detained by the NIA on charges of receiving secret funds to foment unrest in Kashmir.
