NEW DELHI: A top ranking separatist leader, currently in judicial custody, has revealed that Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani maintained a “secret fund” and “destroyed its detail” every week. His statement was recorded before a magistrate, under Section 164 of the CrPC.ET is withholding the name of the person, also a close aide of Geelani. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with its probe into terror funding and conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India.The agency in 2017 had named 15 persons, including Mumbai mastermind Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salaluddin. The statement of Geelani’s aide, accessed by ET, was recorded before a magistrate in Delhi. While giving details of Tehreeek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) finances, it said, “On an average, Rs 6-8 lakh per month was contributed in the secret fund maintained by Geelani. Not many people knew about this fund. Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali was one of the key contributors,” said the statement.His statement formed the basis for action on Watali and J&K Bank by the anti-corruption bureau. Watali along with several top separatist leaders were arrested and charge-sheeted in 2017. More than two years after their arrest, the accused persons, including Geelani’s son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah, continue to be behind bars.The bail granted to Watali by the high court was cancelled by the Supreme Court. In his 20-page confession report, the separatist leader, who also visited Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) at the peak of militancy, said, “During the holy month of Ramzan, TeH used to advertise in all the newspapers in Kashmir, seeking monetary help. The workers and members of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat used to contribute. While 60% of the funds collected were kept by the district president of TeH, 40% went to Geelani.” According to his statement, the maximum collection of Rs 25 lakh was reported from Srinagar, followed by Rs 20 lakh from Baramulla every year.The other districts -- Pulwama, Kupwara, Anantnag, Budgam, Shopian, Kulgam -- reported collections of Rs 10-12 lakh per year, the statement claimed. It further revealed the complicity of officials from the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi who were providing funds to separatist leaders through Watali.“Zahoor Watali has very close ties in the Pakistan embassy, particularly first secretary Mudassar shaeb,” the statement said.The first secretary at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, Mudassar Cheema, left India in 2018 after his name cropped up during the NIA investigations.He alleged that Geelani-led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat along with two other organisations were tasked to distribute Rs 1 crore to pellet victims during the 2016 agitations. “The money is believed to have come from Pakistan and 95 families were given 1 lakh each,” according to the statement.The 2016 agitations in the Valley started after the killing of Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces. As many as 119 persons were killed during the protests and more than 16,000 were injured.