Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken possession of a plot in Girgaum that housed the 95-year-old New Roshan Talkies, owned by the late drug trafficker Iqbal Mirchi, after finding out that his associates had razed the single screen cinema hall that was attached in 2020.

Accompanied by a dozen CRPF personnel, ED officials secured the vacant plot in Khetwadi, Girgaum. Reports indicate that the theatre's assets, including vintage film reels, were disposed of, along with other materials. Mirchi's kin were attempting to sell the land, despite it being attached by ED, officials said.

A person associated with the Mirchi family told the investigation agency that he owned the cinema hall and had demolished the structure after obtaining BMC's permission. ED officials dismissed his claim and are reviewing the details before taking a call on lodging a police case against him.

In 2019, ED initiated a money laundering investigation against Mirchi, along with his associates. It attached multiple properties of the drug trafficker the following year, including New Roshan Talkies. Subsequently, the adjudication authority under PMLA confirmed the attachment. ED was supposed to take possession of the property, but Mirchi's kin obtained a stay on it from the appellate tribunal, after which the issue was kept pending.

ED learned about the demolition last month and that Mirchi's family was trying to create third-party interest in the property. The investigation agency then approached the tribunal to vacate the stay and subsequently took possession of the plot.

This is the second property of Mirchi in ED's possession, following the acquisition of premises in Ceejay House building in Worli, where the agency has since established its offices.

According to the agency, Mirchi acquired multiple properties using the proceeds of drug trafficking between 1970 and till his death in London in 2013. Following his death, these properties were transferred to his sons—Junaid Iqbal Memon and Asif Iqbal Memon—and his first wife, Hajra Memon, through gift deeds. New Roshan Talkies was among them.

The cinema hall was built around 1930 and Mirchi bought it in 1982. Initially, his elder brother operated it, and then his brother-in-law, Mukhtar Patka, took over the property. ED had earlier said in its chargesheet that Mirchi executed hawala operations with the help of his associates from the premises of the cinema hall.

The gangster fled India in the early 1990s to avoid arrest in multiple cases registered against him in India. In London, he lived with his second wife, former actress Hina Kausar, the stepdaughter of film director K Asif, while Hajra Memon lived in Dubai with her children.

The 95-year-old New Roshan Talkies, a single screen cinema hall in Girgaum, was attached in 2020. ED found out last month that it had been demolished. Vintage film reels have reportedly been disposed of