LUCKNOW, Dec. 24 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow zonal office, has secured a major legal step in a money laundering case linked to the alleged misuse of government funds by the Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust. The special court under the PMLA, Lucknow, took cognisance of the prosecution complaint on November 25, 2025, confirmed senior ED officials on Tuesday. They said the ED had filed the prosecution complaint on August 11, 2025, seeking confiscation of properties worth Rs.45.92 lakh and conviction of the accused-Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, its then project director Louise Khurshid, wife of senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and Mohammad Athar-for their alleged involvement in money laundering. The case pertains to the alleged diversion of government grants meant for the distribution of artificial limbs and assistive equipment to persons with disabilities. According to ED, the funds were misused for personal and institutional gain instead of being utilised for organising camps as sanctioned by the centre. The ED probe was initiated on the basis of 17 FIRs registered by the UP Police's Economic Offences Wing against Pratyush Shukla, a representative of the Trust, and others. Charge sheets have been filed by the police in all 17 cases against Athar Farooqui alias Mohammad Athar, the then secretary of the Trust, and Louise Khurshid. htc...