ED attaches properties worth Rs 1.53 cr

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth Rs 1.53 crores in connection with a case involving huge cash deposits made in a Gaya bank branch during demonetisation, the agency sources said today.
The ED sources said that its Patna unit attached properties held in the name of Rajesh Agrawal, proprietor of Maa Tara Agency in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, and R K Gupta, proprietor of Harikripa in New Delhi.
The attached properties include two flats and one house in Muzaffarpur, bank and other deposits in Muzaffarpur and Delhi, the sources said.
The role of the bank officials and other properties involved in the money laundering are under investigation.

The ED had lodged a case on December 26 last year in this connection and started investigation, they said.
During an investigation under the Provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it was found that officials of Bank of India, at G B Road branch of Gaya, in connivance with some businessmen misused the bank accounts of certain people to deposit huge amount of demonetised currency between November 9 and December 30 last year, the sources said.

The deposited money was layered through various bank accounts in the guise of fake business transaction, the sources said, adding that the ED has already frozen the suspected accounts.

The attachment of properties of Maa Tara Agency and Harikripa has been ordered under the PMLA after detailed investigation as these properties had been found to have been involved in money laundering, the sources said.
During the investigation, it was found that Rs 1.46 crore demonetised currency was deposited in the bank accounts of two persons without their knowledge and consent.
The amount was then further transferred to the account of Maa Tara Agency in Muzaffarpur.
In a similar manner, Rs 82.51 lakhs demonetised currency was deposited in the bank account of another person and was later transferred to the account of Harikripa in New Delhi, they said.

During interrogation by the ED, both Agrawal and Gupta failed to give any valid explanation of the deposits and transactions made in their firms' accounts.
The ED had attached the properties acquired by them as these are involved in money laundering.