New Delhi, Aug 01: Delhi Police would soon question fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his associate Ashraf Bhatt in a case of alleged funding of separatist leaders in Kashmir Valley even as the role of a former Union minister was being scrutinised in the case. Official sources said a Delhi Police team would be soon sent to Srinagar to question Geelani, who was named by two militants of Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen -- Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh and Saifuddin Bhat -- arrested last evening as the prospective recipient of the Rs 10 lakh seized from them.

Geelani, however, has denied the charge but acknowledged that he knew the two.

The duo have also alleged that Bhatt, who is believed to be a close associate of Geelani, had arranged the funds and also liasioned with the Pakistani JUM militant leader Ghulam Rasool Shah. Bhatt is alleged to have talked to a Pakistani contact and fixed the meeting for the duo to receive money before flying back to Srinagar, the sources said quoting the interrogation report of the duo.

Meanwhile, Sheikh, who has admitted to his interrogators about his links with ISI, has also claimed that he was closely associated with a former Union cabinet minister.

Delhi Police officials were tightlipped over this and refused to comment on it on being contacted.

However, the sources said that the links of Sheikh with the former minister were being scrutinised and a report would be filed soon in the case. Bureau Report