SIT readies blueprint to probe illegal money trail

The Ministry of External Affairs, the lead agency in such situations, has cleared India's participation

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Arijit Pasayat, former judge of the Supreme Court, has prepared the blueprint to probe the illegal money trail in Odisha.

The SIT that is investigating black money transactions across the country, today held discussions at Cuttack (25 km from here) with the top officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax (IT) department, Crime Branch, Vigilance and government officials from the department of steel & mines.

"We had discussions with the Inspector General, Crime Branch, senior officers of IT, Vigilance officials, the state mines secretary and director of mines. The talks centred on the black money angle on contemporary issues", Pasayat told reporters.

Sources said, the SIT discussed on the illegal money trail of chit fund operators and mining companies. The ED has achieved some major breakthroughs with respect to Ponzi firms and miners regarding their black money route.

The ED has already attached assets worth Rs 400 crore of three firms, their owners and associates in the Uliburu mining scam case which was also probed by Justice (retd) M B Shah Commission for alleged financial irregularities and corruption. The assets attached under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in this case largely included land and buildings spread across Odisha and Kolkata.

The investigative agency has also attached Rs 85 crore assets of prime accused Pradeep Sethi and few others in the Artha Tatwa Group chit fund scam.