Properties worth Rs 12 crore attached under PMLA

The enforcement directorate here today attached two properties worth Rs 12 crore under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with a land scam.

A plot measuring 80,000 square feet and a developed property of 1,200 sq ft, belonging to businessman Vijay Kothari and his partner Manish Tambi, were attached by the ED, a senior official said.

A case was registered in 2012 under PMLA against Kothari and others over illegal transfer of a three acre plot in Pardeshipura area.

The scam was unearthed by the Lokayukta Police. Accordingly, the municipal corporation had allotted this prime-location land to Kothari for a chemical unit. But he allegedly transferred it to Nandanagar Cooperative Society, then headed by local BJP leader Ramesh Mendola.
 

Mendola, now BJP MLA from Indore-2 constituency, is also an accused in the case.

A residential building was later built on the land. According to police this caused a loss of Rs 1.58 crore to the the state exchequer.