Page 22 - Enforcement Directorate

ED team assaulted on offshore Cruise Casino Pride in Goa; staffers booked

A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was allegedly assaulted by the staff of an offshore casino vessel in Goa, police said on Saturday. Police on Friday registered a case against the director, two senior staffers of Cruise Casino Pride, and a few others for the incident that occurred on December 12, an official said. According to the complaint lodged at Panaji police station, the staff of the offshore casino vessel allegedly assaulted Poluri Chenna Kesava Rao, an assistant director of ED, and his team and confined them in a room while they were searching the premises on Thursday afternoon, the official said. He said casino director Ashok Wadia, senior staffers Gopal Ramnath Naik, Arati Raja and a few others were involved in the assault. The accused threatened to cause injury to the complainant and his team and wrongfully confined them in a room while they were discharging their lawful duty in an official capacity, a spokesperson from the Goa police said. He said the ED has a

Mahadev betting case: ED conducts fresh raids in Kolkata, freezes Rs 130 cr

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has conducted fresh searches in Kolkata in the Mahadev online betting-linked money laundering case and has frozen securities and deposits worth more than Rs 130 crore. The searches were conducted on Thursday, the agency said in a statement. The case pertains to an ongoing investigation by the federal agency in which a number of high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh are alleged to have been involved. During the searches conducted in Kolkata, securities, bonds and demat accounts worth Rs 130.57 crore were frozen under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said. The agency has alleged that its probe into the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) gaming and betting app has shown the involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, the state where the two main promoters -- Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal -- of the app hail from. It has said the MOB app is an umbr

ED action linked to fraud done by third parties, says Dentsu India

Leading communications company Dentsu India Friday said the recent ED searches against it were related to a suspected fraud done by some "third parties" and this was "proactively" reported by it to the relevant authorities. The Enforcement Directorate had Thursday said in a press statement that it conducted raids on December 10 at multiple premises in Mumbai, Delhi and Gurugram as part of a probe in the "Suumaya-Dentsu case". The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Mumbai police (Worli police station) against Dentsu Communications India Private Limited and Suumaya Industries Ltd, a textile group, and its promoters and some others. Dentsu India, in response to a PTI query, said they had, in 2021, identified "suspected fraudulent activity conducted by third parties and some of InDeed's former employees against whom criminal complaints have also been filed". "This activity was limited to the InDeed business only. Three years ago, we proactively reported the matter to the ..

Summaya-Dentsu case: ED raids across multiple cities, seizes cash, gold

During the search operations, ED found seized Indian currency of Rs 46 Lakh, foreign currency equivalent to Rs 4 Lakh and gold bars amounting to Rs 3.4 Crore

ED cannot direct prosecutors on court conduct in money laundering cases: SC

The Supreme Court has said the Enforcement Directorate and its director may provide instructions related to the facts of a money laundering case but they cannot direct their prosecutors on how to conduct themselves in court. The top court ruling underscored the independence of public prosecutors as officers of the court and limits the influence of investigative agencies in judicial proceedings. The observations were made in an order by a bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Augustine George Masih on Wednesday while granting bail to Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, who were arrested in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. The bench took note of their prolonged incarceration and believed that the trial would not begin in the near future. The bench clarified the limits of the ED's authority over public prosecutors while addressing a trial court's directive that the director of the anti-money laundering probe agency issue instructions to prosecutors not to oppose bail .

ED attaches assets worth Rs 135.06 cr in Adarsh credit cooperative case

In the case, ED had earlier attached properties amounting to Rs 2,075 crore have already been attached

Mehul Choksi's Rs 2,565.9 crore properties set for auction after court nod

A Mumbai court has approved the auction of Mehul Choksi's Rs 2,565.9 crore assets, seized by the ED in the PNB fraud case. The assets, including flats and factories, will now be liquidate

Mahadev app betting case: ED attaches fresh assets worth Rs 388 crore

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday said it has attached fresh assets worth about Rs 388 crore in its ongoing money laundering investigation into the Mahadev online betting case in which various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh are alleged to have been involved. These include movable assets -- investment made by Mauritius-based company Tano Investment Opportunities Fund related to Dubai-based "hawala operator" Hari Shankar Tibrewal through FPI and FDI -- and properties in Chhattisgarh, Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh in the name of promoters of multiple betting apps and websites, panel operators and associates of the promoters, the federal agency said in a statement. A provisional order was issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on December 5 to attach these assets with a total value of Rs 387.99 crore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said. Tibrewal is being investigated by the agency in this case. The ED has issued multiple such orders

ED attaches over 3 dozen horses worth Rs 4 crore in cyber fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate Wednesday said it has attached more than three dozen horses worth about Rs 4 crore as part of a money laundering investigation in a cyber fraud case in West Bengal where foreign citizens were duped through fake call centres. The federal agency said in a statement that it issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday to attach properties worth over Rs 5 crore of Kunal Gupta, owner of Met Technologies Pvt Ltd, and his associate Pawan Jaiswal who ran an international "cyber fraud" network. The attached properties include 37 horses belonging to KG Stud Farm LLP, valued at Rs 3.98 crore, and flats worth Rs 1.08 crore in Greenleaf Complex at Baguiati in Kolkata. "The attached 37 horses are stationed across race clubs and riding schools in India," the ED said. Under such an attachment involving animals, the ED imposes restriction on their sale and once the provisional order is confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority o

Pernod Ricard internal probe reveals that top India exec violated laws

Enforcement Directorate, in Jan. 2023 accused Pernod Ricard India (PRI) of engaging in money laundering by unlawfully facilitating $24 million in corporate guarantees

CM Siddaramaiah calls ED's move in Muda case politically motivated

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday termed the ED's recent communication to the state Lokayukta police in connection with the MUDA site allotment case, as "politically motivated" and sent with an intent to influence them and the court. He repeatedly asserted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has no powers to investigate the case. Siddaramaiah is facing allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B M by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). "It is politically motivated. Tomorrow our writ appeal against the single bench order is coming up (before division bench in HC), if they have done it just ahead of it, what does it mean? First of all they (ED) dont have any powers to investigate, they cannot do it legally. Secondly, they have done this to influence the court," he said in response to a question on ED's letter to Lokayukta. Addressing reporters here, the CM said, "The Lokayukta is conducting the inquiry and they will ha

Delhi HC notice on ED plea against giving unrelied doc copies to Kejriwal

The plea stated that the impugned order, dated October 9 this year issued by the Special Court, directed the ED to supply copies of the uninspected and un-relied upon documents

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