Budgam, Sept 12: Hurriyat leader Nayeem Khan, who was arrested on Wednesday with Rs nine lakh "hawala" money, was today remanded to five-days police custody, official sources said. Jammu and Kashmir National Front chairman Khan was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam where police sought his five days remand for questioning, the sources said.

Khan is likely to be questioned about the source of the money which was allegedly meant for funding of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, they said. Before being presented in court, Khan told a news agency that he was being "framed" and there was no truth in the allegations that the money he was carrying was meant for funding militancy.

"These are baseless charges. I am financially well off and Rs nine lakh is not a big amount for me", he added.

Khan was detained at his Hyderpora Residence in the civil lines area by police on Wednesday night after he failed to explain the source of money in his possession. Inspector General of Police K Rajendra Kumar said the money recovered from Khan was received through hawala channels and was meant for funding militancy in the state.

Khan is a general council member of the Hurriyat supporting the breakaway faction lead by Masrat Alam.

Bureau Report