Report Wire

Tag: money-laundering

  • Illegal mining case: ED conducts contemporary raids in a number of areas in Jharkhand

    By PTI

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided a number of areas in Jharkhand on Wednesday as a part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation into alleged unlawful mining within the state, official sources mentioned.

    The federal probe company will cowl about 17-20 premises within the state as a part of the operation.

    The searches have been carried out after contemporary info got here to the fore following the questioning of Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Mishra’s affiliate and muscleman Bachhu Yadav, the sources mentioned.

    Both Mishra and Yadav have been arrested by the ED on this case a while in the past.

    The ED probe started after the company raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, protecting 19 areas in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand within the case linked to alleged cases of unlawful mining and extortion.

    The searches have been launched after the ED filed a case below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) towards Mishra and others in March, alleging that the previous “illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour”.

    Soon after the July raids, the ED seized funds amounting to Rs 13.32 crore mendacity in 50 financial institution accounts.

    “The evidence collected during the course of the investigation, including the statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents, revealed that the seized cash or bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in the Sahibganj area, including the forest area,” the company had mentioned.

    It had mentioned it was probing the path of Rs 100 crore of “proceeds of crime” generated from unlawful mining operations in Jharkhand.

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided a number of areas in Jharkhand on Wednesday as a part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation into alleged unlawful mining within the state, official sources mentioned.

    The federal probe company will cowl about 17-20 premises within the state as a part of the operation.

    The searches have been carried out after contemporary info got here to the fore following the questioning of Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Mishra’s affiliate and muscleman Bachhu Yadav, the sources mentioned.

    Both Mishra and Yadav have been arrested by the ED on this case a while in the past.

    The ED probe started after the company raided Mishra and his alleged associates on July 8, protecting 19 areas in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand within the case linked to alleged cases of unlawful mining and extortion.

    The searches have been launched after the ED filed a case below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) towards Mishra and others in March, alleging that the previous “illegally grabbed or amassed huge assets in his favour”.

    Soon after the July raids, the ED seized funds amounting to Rs 13.32 crore mendacity in 50 financial institution accounts.

    “The evidence collected during the course of the investigation, including the statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents, revealed that the seized cash or bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in the Sahibganj area, including the forest area,” the company had mentioned.

    It had mentioned it was probing the path of Rs 100 crore of “proceeds of crime” generated from unlawful mining operations in Jharkhand.

  • ED registers cash laundering case to probe alleged irregularities in Delhi Excise coverage 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a cash laundering case to probe alleged irregularities within the Delhi Excise coverage allegedly involving Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, official sources stated Tuesday.

    The federal company has filed the case beneath the legal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    The CBI had carried out raids within the case final week on August 19 and had lined the Delhi residence of Sisodia, 50, that of IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 different areas throughout seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds a number of portfolios within the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi authorities together with that of excise and training.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities have been finished within the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy introduced out in November final 12 months.

    The scheme got here beneath the scanner after Delhi Lt Governor V Ok Saxena final month advisable a CBI probe into alleged irregularities within the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He additionally suspended 11 excise officers within the matter.

    Sisodia too demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities within the coverage.

    The CBI inquiry was advisable on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July exhibiting prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officers stated.

    The ED, throughout its probe, will analyse if people and corporations who have been concerned within the policy-making of this scheme and associated entities generated any “proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA” and if there was any attainable creation of unlawful or benami belongings, sources stated.

    The company has powers to connect such belongings and query, arrest and prosecute those that indulge within the offence of cash laundering.

    According to officers, the chief secretary’s report had proven prima facie violations, together with “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, to offer post-tender “undue benefits to liquor licensees” by means of the coverage.

    It is alleged that undue monetary favours have been prolonged to liquor licensees after the tenders have been awarded, inflicting loss to the exchequer.

    The excise division gave a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the licensees on the tendered licence charge on the excuse of COVID-19, sources claimed.

    They added that it additionally refunded the earnest cash of Rs 30 crore to the bottom bidder for the licence of the airport zone when it did not get hold of a no-objection certificates (NOC) from airport authorities.

    “It was in gross violation of rule 48(11)(b) of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, which clearly stipulates that the successful bidder must complete all formalities for the grant of the licence, failing which all deposits made by him shall stand forfeited to the government,” a supply stated.

    The Excise Policy 2021-22, formulated on the premise of an professional committee report, was carried out on November 17 final 12 months and retail licences have been issued beneath it to personal bidders for 849 vends throughout town, divided into 32 zones.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a cash laundering case to probe alleged irregularities within the Delhi Excise coverage allegedly involving Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others, official sources stated Tuesday.

    The federal company has filed the case beneath the legal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR that has named Sisodia and 14 others.

    The CBI had carried out raids within the case final week on August 19 and had lined the Delhi residence of Sisodia, 50, that of IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 different areas throughout seven states and Union Territories.

    Sisodia holds a number of portfolios within the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi authorities together with that of excise and training.

    The ED will probe if alleged irregularities have been finished within the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy introduced out in November final 12 months.

    The scheme got here beneath the scanner after Delhi Lt Governor V Ok Saxena final month advisable a CBI probe into alleged irregularities within the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.

    He additionally suspended 11 excise officers within the matter.

    Sisodia too demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities within the coverage.

    The CBI inquiry was advisable on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July exhibiting prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010, officers stated.

    The ED, throughout its probe, will analyse if people and corporations who have been concerned within the policy-making of this scheme and associated entities generated any “proceeds of crime under the definition of PMLA” and if there was any attainable creation of unlawful or benami belongings, sources stated.

    The company has powers to connect such belongings and query, arrest and prosecute those that indulge within the offence of cash laundering.

    According to officers, the chief secretary’s report had proven prima facie violations, together with “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, to offer post-tender “undue benefits to liquor licensees” by means of the coverage.

    It is alleged that undue monetary favours have been prolonged to liquor licensees after the tenders have been awarded, inflicting loss to the exchequer.

    The excise division gave a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the licensees on the tendered licence charge on the excuse of COVID-19, sources claimed.

    They added that it additionally refunded the earnest cash of Rs 30 crore to the bottom bidder for the licence of the airport zone when it did not get hold of a no-objection certificates (NOC) from airport authorities.

    “It was in gross violation of rule 48(11)(b) of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, which clearly stipulates that the successful bidder must complete all formalities for the grant of the licence, failing which all deposits made by him shall stand forfeited to the government,” a supply stated.

    The Excise Policy 2021-22, formulated on the premise of an professional committee report, was carried out on November 17 final 12 months and retail licences have been issued beneath it to personal bidders for 849 vends throughout town, divided into 32 zones.

  • SC agrees to listing plea searching for evaluation of PMLA judgment

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to listing a plea searching for evaluation of its order upholding the Enforcement Directorate’s powers associated to arrest, attachment of property concerned in cash laundering, search and seizure below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    “Okay, we will list it,” a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana stated after the plea was talked about earlier than it.

    It is widespread expertise the world over that cash laundering generally is a “threat” to the great functioning of a monetary system, the apex courtroom had noticed on July 27 whereas upholding the validity of sure provisions of the PMLA. It underlined that this isn’t an “ordinary offence”.

    The Centre has been insisting cash laundering is an offence that’s dedicated not solely by unscrupulous businessmen but in addition terror organisations, posing a grave risk to nationwide safety.

    A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar had stated authorities below the 2002 Act are “not police officers as such” and the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) can’t be equated with an FIR below the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

    The bench had stated provide of an ECIR copy in each case to the particular person involved shouldn’t be obligatory and it’s sufficient if the ED, on the time of arrest, discloses the grounds of such an arrest.

    The petitioners within the case had raised the problem of the contents of ECIR not being disclosed to the accused.

    The courtroom’s judgement got here on a clutch of over 200 petitions filed by people and different entities questioning varied provisions of the PMLA, a regulation which the opposition has usually claimed has been weaponised by the federal government to harass its political adversaries.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to listing a plea searching for evaluation of its order upholding the Enforcement Directorate’s powers associated to arrest, attachment of property concerned in cash laundering, search and seizure below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    “Okay, we will list it,” a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana stated after the plea was talked about earlier than it.

    It is widespread expertise the world over that cash laundering generally is a “threat” to the great functioning of a monetary system, the apex courtroom had noticed on July 27 whereas upholding the validity of sure provisions of the PMLA. It underlined that this isn’t an “ordinary offence”.

    The Centre has been insisting cash laundering is an offence that’s dedicated not solely by unscrupulous businessmen but in addition terror organisations, posing a grave risk to nationwide safety.

    A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar had stated authorities below the 2002 Act are “not police officers as such” and the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) can’t be equated with an FIR below the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

    The bench had stated provide of an ECIR copy in each case to the particular person involved shouldn’t be obligatory and it’s sufficient if the ED, on the time of arrest, discloses the grounds of such an arrest.

    The petitioners within the case had raised the problem of the contents of ECIR not being disclosed to the accused.

    The courtroom’s judgement got here on a clutch of over 200 petitions filed by people and different entities questioning varied provisions of the PMLA, a regulation which the opposition has usually claimed has been weaponised by the federal government to harass its political adversaries.

  • ED summons Sanjay Raut’s spouse for questioning in cash laundering case

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Varsha Raut, spouse of arrested Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, for questioning in a cash laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities within the redevelopment of a neighborhood ‘chawl’ and linked transactions, officers stated on Thursday.

    Varsha Raut is anticipated to be confronted along with her husband and another accused concerned within the case as soon as she deposes earlier than the central company at its workplace in Ballard Estate later this week.

    Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED on this case on August 1 and a neighborhood court docket on Thursday despatched him to additional custody until August 8.

    The ED had earlier advised the court docket that Sanjay Raut and his household obtained “proceeds of crime” price over Rs 1 crore generated out of alleged irregularities within the housing redevelopment challenge.

    The 60-year-old Rajya Sabha member is a detailed aide of Shiv Sena president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. He had denied any wrongdoing and had known as the ED case in opposition to him as “false”.

    In April, the ED had provisionally connected property price over Rs 11.15 crore of Varsha Raut and two of associates of Sanjay Raut as a part of its probe.

    The connected properties are within the type of land held by Pravin M Raut, Sanjay Raut’s aide and a former director of Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited, at Palghar, Saphale (a city in Palghar) and Padgha (in Thane district).

    The properties additionally embody a flat in Mumbai suburb Dadar held by Varsha Raut and eight plots on the Kihim seaside in Alibaug collectively held by Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar, the spouse of Sujit Patkar, a “close associate” of Sanjay Raut, the ED had stated.

    The company is known to have been questioning Sanjay Raut about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut and Patkar and in addition concerning the property offers involving his spouse.

    After arresting Pravin Raut in February, the ED had stated he seems to be “acting as a front” or in collusion with some influential individual. The company had additionally stated Pravin Raut had made funds to sure “politically-exposed persons”.

    In the Alibaug land deal, other than the registered worth, “cash” funds had been made to the sellers, the company had alleged.

    Pravin Raut was arrested by the ED in a probe linked to a Rs 1,034-crore alleged land rip-off associated to the redevelopment of the Patra “chawl” in Mumbai’s Goregaon space. He is at the moment in judicial custody.

    Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited was concerned within the redevelopment of the “chawl”, which had 672 tenants residing in tenements on 47 acres belonging to the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA), the ED had stated earlier.

    MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Varsha Raut, spouse of arrested Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, for questioning in a cash laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities within the redevelopment of a neighborhood ‘chawl’ and linked transactions, officers stated on Thursday.

    Varsha Raut is anticipated to be confronted along with her husband and another accused concerned within the case as soon as she deposes earlier than the central company at its workplace in Ballard Estate later this week.

    Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED on this case on August 1 and a neighborhood court docket on Thursday despatched him to additional custody until August 8.

    The ED had earlier advised the court docket that Sanjay Raut and his household obtained “proceeds of crime” price over Rs 1 crore generated out of alleged irregularities within the housing redevelopment challenge.

    The 60-year-old Rajya Sabha member is a detailed aide of Shiv Sena president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. He had denied any wrongdoing and had known as the ED case in opposition to him as “false”.

    In April, the ED had provisionally connected property price over Rs 11.15 crore of Varsha Raut and two of associates of Sanjay Raut as a part of its probe.

    The connected properties are within the type of land held by Pravin M Raut, Sanjay Raut’s aide and a former director of Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited, at Palghar, Saphale (a city in Palghar) and Padgha (in Thane district).

    The properties additionally embody a flat in Mumbai suburb Dadar held by Varsha Raut and eight plots on the Kihim seaside in Alibaug collectively held by Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar, the spouse of Sujit Patkar, a “close associate” of Sanjay Raut, the ED had stated.

    The company is known to have been questioning Sanjay Raut about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut and Patkar and in addition concerning the property offers involving his spouse.

    After arresting Pravin Raut in February, the ED had stated he seems to be “acting as a front” or in collusion with some influential individual. The company had additionally stated Pravin Raut had made funds to sure “politically-exposed persons”.

    In the Alibaug land deal, other than the registered worth, “cash” funds had been made to the sellers, the company had alleged.

    Pravin Raut was arrested by the ED in a probe linked to a Rs 1,034-crore alleged land rip-off associated to the redevelopment of the Patra “chawl” in Mumbai’s Goregaon space. He is at the moment in judicial custody.

    Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited was concerned within the redevelopment of the “chawl”, which had 672 tenants residing in tenements on 47 acres belonging to the Maharashtra Housing Area Development Authority (MHADA), the ED had stated earlier.

  • National Herald case: Sonia Gandhi seems earlier than ED for third spherical of questioning 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appeared earlier than the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the third spherical of questioning within the cash laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

    She reached the federal company’s workplace in central Delhi at 11 am accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

    The 75-year-old Gandhi has been questioned for over eight hours until now the place she has confronted near 65-70 questions. The questioning is predicted to finish Wednesday with the company placing throughout a set of one other 30-40 inquiries to Gandhi.

    The questioning pertains to the cost of alleged monetary irregularities within the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

    The periods are going down with Covid-appropriate protocols in place and are being recorded in an audio-video mode, officers stated.

    Congress has slammed the company’s motion in opposition to its prime management and termed it as “political vendetta” and “harassment”.

    The Delhi Police, just like the final two occasions, deployed an enormous pressure, together with CRPF and RAF personnel, and barricaded your entire over one kilometre stretch between Gandhi’s residence on Janpath-Akbar Road and the ED workplace.

    Traffic restrictions have been additionally imposed within the space. Rahul Gandhi has additionally been questioned by the ED on this case final month in periods that clocked over 50 hours over 5 days.

    The transfer to query the Gandhis was initiated after the ED late final yr registered a recent case underneath the legal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    This was after a trial court docket right here took cognisance of an Income Tax division probe in opposition to Young Indian based mostly on a non-public legal grievance by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

    Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the many promoters and majority shareholders in Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding.

    Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with Young Indian paying solely Rs 50 lakh to acquire the appropriate to get well Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Limited owed to the Congress.

    In February final yr, the Delhi High Court issued a discover to the Gandhis in search of their response to Swamy’s plea. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal have been questioned by the ED within the case in April.

    Congress has maintained there was no wrongdoing and Young Indian is a “not-for-profit” firm established underneath part 25 of the Companies Act and therefore there could be no query of cash laundering.

    It is known that Rahul Gandhi, throughout his deposition earlier than the ED, caught to the place that there was no private acquisition of belongings by himself or his household.

    According to the ED, belongings value about Rs 800 crore are “owned” by the AJL and the company needs to know from the Gandhis how a not-for-profit firm like Young Indian was enterprise industrial actions of renting out its land and constructing belongings.

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appeared earlier than the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the third spherical of questioning within the cash laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

    She reached the federal company’s workplace in central Delhi at 11 am accompanied by her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

    The 75-year-old Gandhi has been questioned for over eight hours until now the place she has confronted near 65-70 questions. The questioning is predicted to finish Wednesday with the company placing throughout a set of one other 30-40 inquiries to Gandhi.

    The questioning pertains to the cost of alleged monetary irregularities within the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

    The periods are going down with Covid-appropriate protocols in place and are being recorded in an audio-video mode, officers stated.

    Congress has slammed the company’s motion in opposition to its prime management and termed it as “political vendetta” and “harassment”.

    The Delhi Police, just like the final two occasions, deployed an enormous pressure, together with CRPF and RAF personnel, and barricaded your entire over one kilometre stretch between Gandhi’s residence on Janpath-Akbar Road and the ED workplace.

    Traffic restrictions have been additionally imposed within the space. Rahul Gandhi has additionally been questioned by the ED on this case final month in periods that clocked over 50 hours over 5 days.

    The transfer to query the Gandhis was initiated after the ED late final yr registered a recent case underneath the legal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    This was after a trial court docket right here took cognisance of an Income Tax division probe in opposition to Young Indian based mostly on a non-public legal grievance by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

    Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the many promoters and majority shareholders in Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding.

    Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with Young Indian paying solely Rs 50 lakh to acquire the appropriate to get well Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Limited owed to the Congress.

    In February final yr, the Delhi High Court issued a discover to the Gandhis in search of their response to Swamy’s plea. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal have been questioned by the ED within the case in April.

    Congress has maintained there was no wrongdoing and Young Indian is a “not-for-profit” firm established underneath part 25 of the Companies Act and therefore there could be no query of cash laundering.

    It is known that Rahul Gandhi, throughout his deposition earlier than the ED, caught to the place that there was no private acquisition of belongings by himself or his household.

    According to the ED, belongings value about Rs 800 crore are “owned” by the AJL and the company needs to know from the Gandhis how a not-for-profit firm like Young Indian was enterprise industrial actions of renting out its land and constructing belongings.

  • ED arrests Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s political aide in cash laundering case

    By PTI

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on Tuesday in reference to a money-laundering probe linked to alleged unlawful mining within the state, officers mentioned.

    They mentioned Mishra was arrested below the prison sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including that he was “evasive in his replies” throughout questioning.

    Mishra is predicted to be produced earlier than a Ranchi courtroom on Wednesday, the place the ED will search his custody.

    The federal probe company had raided not less than 19 places in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand on July 8 as a part of the probe towards Mishra linked to alleged irregularities within the operation of toll plaza tenders and cases of unlawful mining within the state.

    After the raids, the ED had frozen deposits of Rs 11.88 crore mendacity in 37 financial institution accounts belonging to Mishra and Dahoo Yadav, an individual linked to him.

    Apart from this, “unaccounted” money amounting to Rs 5.34 crore was additionally seized by the company, which claimed that the cash was linked to “illegal mining” in Jharkhand.

    Five stone crushers that have been being “illegally” operated and an equal variety of “illegal firearm cartridges” have been additionally seized by the ED.

    “The evidence collected during the course of the investigation, including the statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents, revealed that the seized cash/bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in the Sahibganj area including the forest area,” the ED mentioned.

    The company mentioned it was probing a path of Rs 100 crore of “proceeds of crime” generated from unlawful mining operations within the state.

    It had not too long ago said that money amounting to greater than Rs 36 crore, linked to “illegal mining” in Jharkhand, was seized by its groups over the past greater than two months as a part of two separate money-laundering investigations.

    The second occasion the place money linked to alleged unlawful mining within the state was unearthed pertains to the ED motion towards suspended Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Singhal in May.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant linked to the couple and others have been raided by the ED as a part of a money-laundering probe linked to a case of alleged corruption within the MGNREGA scheme.

    Singhal, who was holding the cost of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state authorities following her arrest by the ED.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was additionally arrested by the company and money amounting to Rs 19.76 crore was seized by it.

    A chargesheet towards Singhal and others was filed by the company earlier than a particular PMLA courtroom in Ranchi this month.

    “Evidence collected during the course of the investigation (against Singhal and others), including those collected during the searches and statements of various persons, revealed that the major chunk of the seized cash was derived from illegal mining and it belonged to senior bureaucrats and politicians,” the ED had mentioned.

    The complete money seizure within the two instances linked to “illegal” mining in Jharkhand stands at Rs 36.98 crore, the company mentioned.

    The ED motion comes at a time when Soren is embroiled in a case of proudly owning a mining lease within the state.

    The Election Commission (EC) is listening to the case because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sought Soren’s disqualification as an MLA below the electoral regulation.

    Following a reference from the Jharkhand governor, the EC had, in May, issued a discover to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief below part 9A of the Representation of the People Act as it’s alleged that proudly owning the lease violates this regulation.

    Soren’s authorized staff, nevertheless, has maintained that part 9A of the Act doesn’t apply to the case and cited a Supreme Court ruling.

    RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Pankaj Mishra, a political aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on Tuesday in reference to a money-laundering probe linked to alleged unlawful mining within the state, officers mentioned.

    They mentioned Mishra was arrested below the prison sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including that he was “evasive in his replies” throughout questioning.

    Mishra is predicted to be produced earlier than a Ranchi courtroom on Wednesday, the place the ED will search his custody.

    The federal probe company had raided not less than 19 places in Sahibganj, Barhet, Rajmahal, Mirza Chauki and Barharwa in Jharkhand on July 8 as a part of the probe towards Mishra linked to alleged irregularities within the operation of toll plaza tenders and cases of unlawful mining within the state.

    After the raids, the ED had frozen deposits of Rs 11.88 crore mendacity in 37 financial institution accounts belonging to Mishra and Dahoo Yadav, an individual linked to him.

    Apart from this, “unaccounted” money amounting to Rs 5.34 crore was additionally seized by the company, which claimed that the cash was linked to “illegal mining” in Jharkhand.

    Five stone crushers that have been being “illegally” operated and an equal variety of “illegal firearm cartridges” have been additionally seized by the ED.

    “The evidence collected during the course of the investigation, including the statements of various persons, digital evidence and documents, revealed that the seized cash/bank balance is derived from illegal mining being rampantly done in the Sahibganj area including the forest area,” the ED mentioned.

    The company mentioned it was probing a path of Rs 100 crore of “proceeds of crime” generated from unlawful mining operations within the state.

    It had not too long ago said that money amounting to greater than Rs 36 crore, linked to “illegal mining” in Jharkhand, was seized by its groups over the past greater than two months as a part of two separate money-laundering investigations.

    The second occasion the place money linked to alleged unlawful mining within the state was unearthed pertains to the ED motion towards suspended Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Pooja Singhal in May.

    Apart from the 2000-batch IAS officer, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant linked to the couple and others have been raided by the ED as a part of a money-laundering probe linked to a case of alleged corruption within the MGNREGA scheme.

    Singhal, who was holding the cost of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state authorities following her arrest by the ED.

    Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was additionally arrested by the company and money amounting to Rs 19.76 crore was seized by it.

    A chargesheet towards Singhal and others was filed by the company earlier than a particular PMLA courtroom in Ranchi this month.

    “Evidence collected during the course of the investigation (against Singhal and others), including those collected during the searches and statements of various persons, revealed that the major chunk of the seized cash was derived from illegal mining and it belonged to senior bureaucrats and politicians,” the ED had mentioned.

    The complete money seizure within the two instances linked to “illegal” mining in Jharkhand stands at Rs 36.98 crore, the company mentioned.

    The ED motion comes at a time when Soren is embroiled in a case of proudly owning a mining lease within the state.

    The Election Commission (EC) is listening to the case because the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sought Soren’s disqualification as an MLA below the electoral regulation.

    Following a reference from the Jharkhand governor, the EC had, in May, issued a discover to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief below part 9A of the Representation of the People Act as it’s alleged that proudly owning the lease violates this regulation.

    Soren’s authorized staff, nevertheless, has maintained that part 9A of the Act doesn’t apply to the case and cited a Supreme Court ruling.

  • National Herald case: In recent discover, Sonia Gandhi requested to seem earlier than ED on July 21

    By Online Desk

    Congress president Sonia Gandhi was on Monday served a recent discover by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to affix the probe on July 21 within the alleged cash laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper.

    On June 22, she had written to the ED about her sickness and requested them to defer the questioning, which was accepted by the probe company.

    “She was suffering with Covid complications and was not fit for questioning,” stated a supply.

    Sonia Gandhi, who was present process therapy at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. She was admitted to the hospital on June 12 after she developed bleeding from the nostril on June 12. She was examined constructive for Covid on June 2.

    Gandhi was issued a second summons for June 23 by the company, however the 75-year-old Congress chief couldn’t preserve the date as she was “strictly advised to rest at home following her hospitalisation on account of COVID-19 and a lung infection”.

    Gandhi had sought suspending of the summons by 4 weeks and therefore, she has been requested to depose earlier than the company on July 21, the officers stated.

    Gandhi had earlier been scheduled to seem earlier than the Enforcement Directorate on June 8, however had sought extra time from the probe company in view of her Covid an infection. The company then issued a recent summons and requested her to affix on June 23.

    Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was questioned for about 51 hours in five-day lengthy questioning. He was reportedly questioned about a couple of transactions made by the Kolkata-based Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd.

  • ED recordsdata money-laundering chargesheet towards Amnesty India, linked organisations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A day after the ED issued a FEMA show-cause discover of Rs 61.72 crore towards Amnesty India and its former head Aakar Patel, the company on Saturday mentioned it has filed a money-laundering cost sheet towards the organisation and some different entities.

    A prosecution criticism has been filed earlier than the courtroom of Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru metropolis towards Amnesty International India Private Limited (AIIPL), Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) and others.

    The courtroom has taken congnisance of the cost sheet filed underneath the legal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and issued summonses to the accused, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) mentioned in an announcement.

    The money-laundering case was filed by the ED after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR towards the accused, whom the latter company had booked for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 and underneath part 120B (legal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

    The ED mentioned throughout “2011-12, Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) had been granted permission under the FCRA, 2010 for receiving foreign contribution from Amnesty International, UK”.

    “The permission/registration has been subsequently revoked to this entity on the basis of adverse inputs received,” it added.

    Subsequently, two new entities – AIIPL and IAIT – had been shaped in 2013-14 and 2012-13 respectively to flee the FCRA route and these entities obtained overseas trade “in the guise of” service export and FDI, the federal company mentioned.

    It mentioned because the FCRA licence of AIIFT was “revoked” by the Centre, a “new method” was adopted by Amnesty entities to obtain cash from overseas as Amnesty International, UK despatched Rs 51.72 crore to AIIPL within the guise of export of companies and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    There was no documentary proof for export proceeds or advances obtained for export of companies to Amnesty International, UK akin to invoices and copies of the settlement between AIIPL and Amnesty International, UK and the identical has not been furnished by AIIPL to the authorised seller (AD) banks, the ED alleged.

    “Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and others have dedicated scheduled offence by claiming to be finishing up ‘civil Society work’, nevertheless receiving foreign exchange in a profit-making firm, thereby mis-utilising the FDI, proved by the absence of any particulars/paperwork regarding exports made and layering of remittances obtained by AIIPL, an organization into IAIT, a charitable belief.

    “In this case, both the entities have acquired proceeds of crime and layered the same in the form of various movable properties,” the company mentioned.

    The show-cause discover issued on Friday underneath the civil legislation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) penalised AIIPL for Rs 51.72 crore and Patel for Rs 10 crore.

    Patel had mentioned they may problem the ED motion undertaken underneath FEMA in courtroom.

  • Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar case: ED makes revelations in Supreme Court, opposes change of jail

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday made some startling revelations in Supreme Court in opposition to “master conman” Sukesh Chandrashekhar that he indulged in cash laundering, extortion, impersonation of public officers together with that of these holding constitutional posts, and opposed his plea for jail switch outdoors Delhi.

    The probe company sought to intervene in a plea of Chandrashekhar, who’s lodged in Tihar jail on fees of cash laundering and duping a number of individuals, and his spouse searching for their switch to a jail outdoors Delhi alleging risk to their lives from jail employees.

    A trip bench of Justices CT Ravi Kumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that ED want to intervene within the plea as it’s the investigating company that’s probing the cash laundering fees in opposition to the accused.

    Mehta mentioned that the ED has to say one thing concerning the conduct of the petitioners. The bench agreed to checklist the plea on Tuesday.

    In its intervention utility, the ED mentioned Chandrashekhar has repeatedly dedicated offences together with that of cash laundering throughout his incarceration within the jail by subverting the authorized system and jail guidelines with the assistance of his data of expertise and his skills to con individuals.

    “Sukesh Chandrashekhar has created a web through his devious mechanism. He is a master conman and with technology, at his disposal, he could execute to perfection his plan,” the company mentioned. The ED mentioned that it has been discovered that Sukesh and his spouse Leena have been operating an organized crime syndicate with the help and affiliation of different associates, added within the syndicate every now and then.

    “That being inside the jail, he was threatening people to do what he wished or face consequences. The proceeds of crime were used to purchase cars, houses in Chennai, various luxury items, clothes, etc., and were utilized to open a salon for his wife, to give expensive gifts to celebrities, and to jail authorities to manage facilities in jail,” it mentioned.

    It added that the investigation has additionally revealed that he had transferred funds overseas to numerous jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Dubai whereas being in custody in jail. “The investigation qua the amounts spent on the jail authorities and the money sent abroad is pending,” it mentioned, including that Chandrashekhar has admitted that he used mobile-based purposes “hushed” and “crazy call” for voice modulation and bought digital numbers.

    It mentioned that Chandrashekar had utilized proceeds of crime generated out of legal actions associated to the scheduled offence within the acquisition of residential property in Chennai, acquisition of assorted high-end autos, funding in saloon operated by her spouse co-accused Leena Maria Paulose by the title “The Nail Artistry”, offering luxurious presents to the celebrities (actresses) and making bills on behalf of them (celebrities), Air Travels by chartered flights and funds got to jail authorities additionally to handle all services in jail.

    The probe company named a number of TV and Bollywood personalities with whom the ‘conman’ has contacts and used to present them costly presents.

    The probe company mentioned that in interrogation it was revealed that “Sukesh was maintaining a personal office in Tihar Jail which was located above the office of Chandra’s office. It was a well-furnished office. Some officials in police uniform saluted these ladies while entering Tihar jail and these ladies were allowed to enter Tihar jail premises without an I-card”.

    “That in the present case Sukesh Chandrashekhar while in custody in prison impersonated Law secretary Anup Kumar and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and extorted an amount to the tune of Rs. 215 crores from the Aditi Singh (wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh) as per quantification till date on the pretext of contribution to party funds. The extorted money was collected by Deepak Ramnani, who was introduced to Sukash by Sanjay Chandra (ex-promoter of Unitech group),” it mentioned.

    The company mentioned that it was additionally revealed that one BMW automobile and one Innova automobile have been maintained by Sukesh in Tihar jail premises for selecting up and dropping the company of Sukesh together with these girls on the gate of Tihar Jail.

    The company mentioned that apparently, the BMW automobile belonged to Chandrashekhar and Innova automobile belonged to Chandra’s and it was additionally revealed that Sukesh used to present money and costly presents to those girls (celebrities) in his workplace solely which was positioned in Tihar Jail.

    “That in light of the above facts and circumstances, all mechanisms to plug the loopholes have been fixed in Tihar jail and strong measures have been taken against the conspiring officials, hence it would be in the interest of justice that the accused remains in Tihar Jail,” it mentioned.

    It mentioned that Chandrashekhar’s petition searching for his switch to a different jail is yet one more ploy to repeat the identical misdemeanors in one other jail facility and exploit the loopholes the place the jail authorities should not acquainted with his modern strategies of con-manship.

    The company mentioned that Tihar Jail has ensured that it will thwart any future chance of misuse of jail services however for any new jail to place in place comparable measures of even to return to phrases with the subtle technique of con-manship by Chandrashekar will take time and transferring them to some other jail can be hazardous as he’s more likely to repeat the identical mischief and offences from throughout the jail as he has achieved on repeat events up to now.

  • Traffic affected on a number of roads in central Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Vehicular motion was affected in central Delhi on Wednesday after the police blocked a number of roads and diverted visitors as Congress chief Rahul Gandhi appeared earlier than the Enforcement Directorate for the third consecutive day of questioning in a cash laundering probe, officers mentioned.

    The police diverted visitors on roads which had been closed and satisfactory safety preparations have been additionally put in place, they mentioned.

    A senior police officer mentioned round 400 visitors personnel have been deputed within the New Delhi district.

    “No call has been received about any congestion in the New Delhi district. The traffic is being managed smoothly. The diversions have been made on roads which have been closed,” the officer mentioned.

    In a sequence of tweets, the visitors division talked about the routes to be averted and mentioned obligatory preparations have been made as a precautionary measure.

    “On 15.6.22, kindly avoid Motilal Nehru Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath & Man Singh Road between 0700 hrs & 1200 hrs. Due to special arrangements traffic movement will not be possible on these roads,” the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

    In one other tweet, it mentioned, “On 15.6.22, pls avoid Gol Methi junction, Tughlak Road Junction, Claridges Junction, Q-point Junction, Sunehri Masjid Junction, Maulana Azad Road Junction & Man Singh Road Junction between 0700 hrs & 1200 hrs. Due to spl arrangements there will be heavy traffic movement here.”

    The division additionally requested commuters to keep away from SP Marg, Dhaula Kuan flyover and Gurgaon highway between 2.15 pm and a couple of.45 pm as a consequence of particular visitors preparations. It mentioned the particular visitors association would limit the inward motion of buses in New Delhi past Gol Dak Khana junction, Patel Chowk, Windsor Place, Teen Murti Chowk and Prithviraj Road.

    Gandhi was questioned by the ED for over 10 hours on Monday in a cash laundering probe linked to the National Herald newspaper. The probe pertains to alleged monetary irregularities within the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the National Herald newspaper.

    The National Herald is printed by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt Limited.