Page 2 - Enforcement Directorate

MUDA scam case: Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra praises ED's investigtion

Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the MUDA case has vindicated his party's stand that this scam was not limited to the irregularities in 14 sites belonging to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's family. He noted that the investigation by the ED in the preliminary stage has uncovered over Rs 700 crore worth of irregularities. Vijayendra also raised doubts over the inquiry conducted by the Lokayukta police into the matter. "We have been saying that thr MUDA scam is not restricted to the allotment of 14 sites to the Chief Minister's family... I had said earlier also that it's a scam worth hundreds of crores of rupees," he said in a press conference here in Kalaburagi. He said his statement was not a mere accusation, but a charge now proved by the ED probe. "The ED has carried out an impartial probe. Preliminary investigation has revealed that more than Rs 700 crore worth scam has taken place in MUDA site allotment." He sai

ED raids in West Bengal over irregularities in NRI quota medical admissions

Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Tuesday conducted simultaneous raids and search operations at various locations in West Bengal in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in NRI quota admissions in several medical colleges and hospitals, an officer said. The ED officers also raided the residences of officials of those institutions in Kolkata's Salt Lake as well as in the districts of Birbhum, Durgapur, Jhargram and Burdwan, he added. The central probe agency officers seized several documents and bank-related papers from the offices and the residences during the raids, he said. "The officials of the institutions were also questioned regarding the papers and documents seized from their possessions," the ED officer said. Accompanied by a large number of central forces, the ED officers also raided the residence of former CPI(M) leader Lakshman Seth in Haldia and the medical colleges run by his NGO. Similar raids were on at Shantiniketan Medical College and Hospita

ED conducts raids in West Bengal over irregularities in medical NRI quota

The raids are part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged manipulation of NRI quota admissions, a practice that reportedly involves substantial financial transactions, fraudulent documentation

Delhi HC to hear DK Shivakumar's plea against money laundering probe in Jan

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday posted on January 23 a plea by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar against a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate. A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma deferred the matter saying it was not possible for it to commence the hearing on Tuesday. "Counsel appearing for the parties say the matter will take some time. Owing to the part-heard matters already listed in court, it would not be possible to commence hearing. List on January 23," said the bench. Shivakumar moved the high court in 2022 seeking quashing of the investigation, including summons issued to him in the ECIR (complaint) registered by the agency in 2020 following an alleged disproportionate assets case. The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner said their arguments would take "half-a-day" as important issues were involved. In his petition, Shivakumar challenged the money laundering probe against him on several grounds, including the

Excise policy 'scam': Delhi HC asks ED to reply to Manish Sisodia's plea

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the Enforcement Directorate's response on a plea of AAP leader Manish Sisodia challenging a trial court's order taking cognisance of a chargesheet filed in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued the notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and fixed Sisodia's plea on December 20, when AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's similar petition is also listed for further proceedings. The former deputy chief minister sought the high court's direction to set aside the trial court's order on the ground that the special judge took cognisance of the chargesheet in the absence of any sanction for the prosecution of the former Delhi chief minister, who was a public servant when the offence was allegedly committed. Sisodia is out on bail in the case. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were extended to the licence holders. The De

ED summons businessman Raj Kundra for questioning in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned businessman Raj Kundra, the husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal distribution of pornographic movies, official sources said on Sunday. They said Kundra has been asked to depose before the investigating officer of the case this week. Some others involved in the case have also been summoned, the sources added. The central agency raided the premises of Kundra in Mumbai and those of other persons located in some cities of Uttar Pradesh on December 29. Kundra said on Saturday that he was "fully complying" with the ongoing investigation that has been unfolding for the last four years. Shetty's lawyer had told PTI that the action was not against the actor and that Kundra was "cooperating in the investigation for the truth to come out." The money laundering case of May 2022 stems from at least two Mumbai Police FIRs and chargesheets filed against Kundra and others. The busines

ED sanction in CBI case covers PMLA offences, court rejects Kejriwal's plea

The submission came in response to a plea filed by Delhi's former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had claimed he had not received a copy of the sanction order

Dragging my wife's name into unrelated matters unacceptable: Raj Kundra

Businessman Raj Kundra, whose premises were raided by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday, has requested the media to "respect boundaries" and not drag his wife, actor Shilpa Shetty's name into "unrelated matters". The ED raided the premises of Kundra and some others as part of a money laundering case linked to alleged distribution of pornographic and adult movies, official sources said. Kundra said unlike media reports, he was "fully complying" with the ongoing investigation that has been unfolding for the last four years. In his first public statement after the raids in an Instagram Story, the entrepreneur said: "As for the claims of associates', pornographic' and money laundering', let's just say that no amount of sensationalism will cloud the truth, in the end, justice will prevail!" "A note to the media: It's unacceptable to repeatedly drag my wife's name into unrelated matters. Please respect the boundaries!!! #ED," he added in the post shared on Friday night. Shetty, who

Kolkata: ED arrests father-son in Rs 2,800 cr chit fund, laundering scam

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has arrested a father-son duo in Kolkata in an alleged Rs 2,800 crore worth chit fund scam linked money laundering case. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent Basudeb Bagchi and his son Avik Bagchi, promoters of Prayag Group of companies, to ten days of ED custody, it said in a statement. The premises of the two and some others in Kolkata and Mumbai were raided by the ED on November 26. The two are accused of "defrauding" the public by collecting deposits worth Rs 2,800 crore under "false" high-return schemes like monthly income schemes (MIS), redeemable preference shares and club membership certificates. As of now, the ED said, Rs 1,900 crore remains "unpaid" to investors. The Prayag Group of companies operated "illegally" without necessary authorisations from regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), affecting lakhs of investors across multip

ED seizes cash, luxury cars in case against ex-promoters of Kwality Ltd.

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it seized Rs 1.3 crore in cash and "evidence" related to shell companies after it searched the former promoters of dairy major Kwality Ltd. as part of a Rs 1,400 crore alleged bank fraud linked money laundering case. Luxury cars and demat accounts valued at about Rs 6.5 crore have also been frozen under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it said in a statement. The federal agency raided 15 locations in Delhi-NCR on November 27 in the case covering the premises of promoters and directors of the erstwhile company like Sanjay Dhingra and Siddhant Gupta apart from some "shell" (paper) companies related to them. Kwality Ltd. has been liquidated and is now with new owners. The ED case stems from a September 2020 CBI FIR filed against the said promoters and Kwality Limited, which was engaged in the processing and trading of milk, ice creams and other dairy products. The CBI FIR alleged that the said erstwhile compan

ED raids Raj Kundra's Mumbai premises in pornography network probe

Raj Kundra was arrested in June 2021 for allegedly producing and distributing pornographic films through a network tied to his company

ED raids Raj Kundra, others in pornography linked money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday raided the premises of businessman Raj Kundra, the husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, and some others as part of a money laundering case linked to alleged distribution of pornographic and adult movies, official sources said. Around 15 locations in Mumbai and some cities in Uttar Pradesh are being searched, including the home and office of 49-year-old Kundra and some other persons, the sources said. The agency is understood to be questioning Kundra at one of these premises. This money laundering case of May, 2022 stems from at least two Mumbai police FIRs and chargesheets filed against Kundra and others. The businessman and some others were arrested in the case by the police and later granted bail. This is the second money laundering case against Kundra. Early this year, the ED had attached assets worth Rs 98 crore of Kundra and Shetty in a crypto currency case. The couple, however, obtained relief from the Bombay High Court against this ED attach

ED attaches assets in India, Dubai linked to Chinese entities in PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it has attached fresh assets in India and Dubai, including those belonging to some Chinese-linked shell companies, in its money laundering probe in the 'HPZ Token' case in which numerous investors were allegedly duped through an investment fraud. The properties are valued at Rs 106.20 crore, the federal agency said in a statement. It had attached assets in this case earlier too. The assets belong to various persons and companies, including Chinese-linked shell (paper companies) entities, which were found to be involved in duping investors for hundreds of crores of rupees on the pretext of doubling their investment through the app 'HPZ Token' and online gaming and betting websites, it said. A total of 299 entities, which includes 76 Chinese-controlled entities in which 10 directors are of Chinese origin while two entities are controlled by other foreign nationals, have been named as accused in the chargesheet filed by the ED in this case i

Kolkata court orders seizure of Rs 24 crore assets in bank fraud case: ED

A special court in Kolkata has ordered the confiscation of assets worth Rs 24 crore of a man, who was declared a fugitive economic offender, and some others in a bank loan fraud case, the ED said on Thursday. The movable and immovable properties, located in prime locations of Kolkata in West Bengal and Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, belong to "mastermind" Pushpesh Kumar Baid and his associates. Baid was declared an offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) by the same court on January 3, the federal agency said in a statement. The Enforcement Directorate case against Baid and others stems from multiple CBI FIRs and chargesheets. He is currently stated to be based in the US. The ED alleged that Baid was "absconding" from the legal proceedings despite a non-bailable warrant being issued against him by the court. "Various companies owned and controlled by Pushpesh Kumar Baid availed loan from the banks by submitting false financial statements and forged deeds of the several

HPZ token investment 'scam': ED attaches assets valued Rs 106.20 crore

The scam involving shell entities with Chinese links, duped investors of hundreds of crores on the pretext of doubling their investments through an app and online gaming and betting websites

Coal levy 'scam': SC extends interim bail of ex-Chhattisgarh CM's dy secy

The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the interim bail of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia, an accused in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal-levy scam. The apex court had on September 25 granted her interim bail, noting that she had already undergone custody of more than one year and nine months and charges were yet to be framed. The matter came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan. The bench sought to know about the current status of the case. Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Chaurasia, said the trial has not yet commenced. "Interim bail to continue," the bench said and posted the matter for hearing in the last week of January. The top court was hearing Chaurasia's plea challenging an August 28 order of the Chhattisgarh High Court which had denied her bail. In its September 25 order, the apex court had directed the state government not to reinstate her in service

ED team conducting raids in cyber fraud case attacked in Delhi, 1 detained

An Enforcement Directorate team undertaking searches in a cyber fraud linked money laundering case was allegedly attacked here on Thursday, officials said. The agency has registered a police FIR about the incident that took place at a farmhouse that was raided by ED officials in the Bijwasan area of the national capital that falls under the Kapashera police station in southwest Delhi. An Enforcement Officer (EO) suffered minor injuries during the attack. He is continuing with the searches after he was given first aid, officials said. The probe pertains to a case against the PYYPL app. The alleged accused in the case, including Ashok Sharma and his brother, allegedly attacked the ED team. The situation is under control and searches are going on, the sources said. The search operations, according to sources, has been launched after the ED got inputs from the I4C and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) about cyber crimes like phishing, QR code cheating, part time job fraud leading

'ED's conviction rate very poor', says SC in Partha Chatterjee bail plea

Earlier in August, the Supreme Court had questioned the 'quality of prosecution and evidence' garnered in cases related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by the Directorate of Enforcement

Cash-for-jobs scam: SC notes trial yet to start, witnesses to be examined

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Chatterjee, informed the top court that his client was in jail for nearly 2.5 years, 183 witnesses are in the case and the trial is yet to start

SC questions ED over low conviction rate in money laundering cases

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the ED over the low rate of convictions in money laundering cases, wondering for how long former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested over alleged irregularities in academic staff recruitment in the state, could be kept in jail. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said Chatterjee has been incarcerated for over two years and the trial in the case was yet to commence. "What will happen if we don't grant bail? Trial is yet to commence, there are 183 witnesses in the cases. Trial will take time...How long can we keep him? That is the question. Here is a case where more than two years have gone. How to strike balance in such case?" the bench asked Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing ED. The top court remarked it also couldn't ignore that the allegations against the former minister were serious in nature and asked, "Mr Raju, if ultimately he is not convicted, what will happen? Waiting for 2.5-3 years is not