ED crackdown on Bihar Maoists: Rs 285 lakh assets attached

In a crackdown on Maoist leaders in Bihar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed prosecution complaint against a top leader of the rebel group and attached properties worth Rs 285.14 lakh of four others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the agency said on Thursday.

The ED has filed a prosecution complaint or chargesheet against Pradumn Sharma, in-charge of Magadh Zone of CPI (Maoists), and has attached his properties valued at Rs 68 lakh.

The agency also attached the immovable properties worth Rs 86 lakh, Rs 54.14 lakh and Rs 77 lakh (which included JCB, SUVs and buses) belonging to Maoist leaders Sandeep Yadav, Musafir Sahni, Anil Ram, and Binay Yadav (active commander of Bihar Regional Committee of CPI-Maoist) respectively.

"The present market value of these immovable properties is several crore rupees," said an ED statement.

ED investigators said that Sharma had laundered extortion money of Rs 2 crore layered through several bank accounts which was ultimately invested in immovable property held by his family members.

"A part of the extortion money was used for admission of Sharma's niece in a prominent medical college," the statement, adding the annual fees of the college is Rs 24 lakh.

"Binay Yadav has also been found laundering extortion money of Rs 1.50 crore using several bank accounts and the laundered money is ultimately used for movable and immovable properties. Musafir Sahni has also laundered extortion money and the same was invested in 11 plots of land in Vaishali in the name of his family members. Anil Ram had used extortion money in the acquisition of six immovable properties and truck on benami names," said the officials.

--IANS

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