Page 68 - Enforcement Directorate

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR head sent to 7-day police custody

NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty, arrested in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations the portal received money for pro-China propaganda, were sent to seven days of police remand, officials said on Wednesday. Police on Tuesday searched for more than 30 locations, questioned several journalists in connection with the case and arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty. A senior officer said both were produced before a court which remanded them in police custody. Police sealed NewsClick's office in Delhi on Tuesday. Officials earlier said 46 "suspects" were questioned and digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones, and documents were taken away for examination. The searches began in the morning and were concentrated in the Delhi-NCR. Among those questioned were journalists Urmilesh, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta as well as historian Sohail Hashmi, satirist Sanjay Rajoura and D Raghunandan o

Why political party not made accused in liquor policy case: SC asks ED

The court query came during the hearing on a bail plea filed on behalf of former Delhi deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia

AAP leader Sanjay Singh arrested by ED in Delhi liquor policy case

On Wednesday, Sanjay Singh was questioned by the central probe agency for over 10 hours in connection with the case

Handcuffs are not far away: BJP to Kejriwal after ED raids on Sanjay Singh

The BJP on Wednesday mounted a blistering attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of being the "kingpin" of the alleged liquor policy scam and saying that "handcuffs" are not far away. The BJP's reaction came after the Enforcement Directorate raided AAP MP Sanjay Singh's residence in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy. Premises of some others connected to the case are also being covered, officials said. During a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that Dinesh Arora, one of the accused in the Delhi excise policy case, had told the probe agency that he had paid a bribe of Rs 32 lakh by cheque to Kejriwal at his residence in the presence of Sanjay Singh. "Arora has admitted that he paid Rs 32 lakh as a bribe to Kejriwal by a cheque on being asked by Sanjay Singh at the meeting to pay for the party fund," Bhatia said. He claimed Kejriwal was a "sinner" and the "kingpin" o

ED issues fresh summons to Abhishek Banerjee; asks to join investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh summon to Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He has been asked to join the ED investigation on October 9, sources said.The ED had earlier summoned Banerjee on October 3. However, Banerjee did not appear at the ED office on that date, owing to the party's MGNREGA protests in Delhi on the same date.Banerjee alleged that it was a tactic used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government to squash the protests."The fight against the deprivation of WB and its rightful dues shall persist regardless of the obstacles. No force on Earth can hinder my dedication to fight for the people of WB and their fundamental rights. I'll b in Delhi joining the protest on Oct 2nd & 3rd. STOP ME IF U CAN!" Banerjee said in a post on 'X'.The TMC general secretary had also alleged that the ED was summoning on days when he had pre-announced public programs."Earlier this month, the ED summoned me on a day coinciding with .

Under BJP, whoever goes to jail will not get bail: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that more than (stray) dogs and cats, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax are moving around

ED 'targeting' Sanjay Singh for raising Adani matter in Parliament: AAP

The AAP on Wednesday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has targeted their Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh as he raised issues related to the Adani Group in Parliament. The party was reacting to the ED raids on the premises of Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said. Sanjay Singh kept on raising questions on the issue of Adani and this is why the raids are being conducted at his residence. The central agencies found nothing earlier and won't find anything today either. First, they conducted raids at the residence of some journalists yesterday and today, raids conducted at Sanjay Singh's residence, AAP spokesperson Reena Gupta said. Sanjay Singh's father Dinesh Singh said they are cooperating with the ED. The ED is doing their job. I don't know the exact time but around 7.30 am they came to conduct raids...I told ED officials they can conduct raids until late at night, we don't want them to visit again and again, he said.

ED raids AAP MP Sanjay Singh's premises in Delhi excise policy case

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday morning raided the premises of AAP MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, officials said. Some other premises of linked people were also being covered, they said. Singh, 51, is a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). His staff members and those linked to him were earlier questioned by the ED in this case. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA.

FIU likely to launch global crypto exchange database by March next year

The exchange will also have information on the exchanges which are operating on the dark web

'Stop me if you can': TMC's Abhishek Banerjee challenges ED summons

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday said that the fight against the deprivation of West Bengal and its rightful dues shall persist regardless of the obstacles

Ahead of state polls, Rajasthan minister claims Centre behind ED raid

The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at Rajasthan Minister Rajesh Yadav and his sons' homes in connection to midday meal irregularities

ED tells SC it will not summon Kavitha in Delhi excise case till Nov 20

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the probe agency will not summon BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi excise policy case till the court hears her plea on November 20. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, "Don't call her in the meantime." Raju assured the bench that Kavitha will not be called for questioning till November 20. The bench posted Kavitha's plea, in which she has challenged the summons issued by the agency on November 20, and said in matters where interim orders of protection are issued will be extended. On September 15, the ED had told the apex court that the summons issued to Kavitha for her appearance before the agency will be extended by 10 days. The ED had issued the summons dated September 4 to Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, seeking her appearance at the agency's Delhi office on Septemb

Unitech case: ED provisionally attaches land worth over Rs 125 crore

The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached land worth Rs 125.06 crore belonging to Unitech Infopark Limited in connection with its probe into money laundering allegations arising out of complaints from home buyers of the Unitech group, officials said Monday. The ED has provisionally attached 39.83 per cent share of 4.79 acres of land that forms part of the Uniworld City township at Nallambakkam in Chennai. "The value of the land attached is Rs 125.06 crore. The said land is owned by Unitech Infopark Limited in which 39.83 per cent shares are held by Narnil Infosolutions Private Limited (a benami company of the Chandras, the promoters of Unitech Group)," the ED said in a statement. The action is part of an investigation undertaken by the ED based on cases registered by the Delhi Police and CBI on the complaints from home buyers against Unitech Group, its promoters and others, it said. In its investigation, ED detected that the Chandras of Unitech had allegedly invested t

PFI money laundering case: ED conducted searches at 12 locations in Kerala

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at several locations linked to former members of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) across the state. Searches are underway at various places in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad districts of the state, police said. The houses of former PFI leaders Abdul Samad and Latheef were also searched in Wayanad and Thrissur districts, they said. According to sources, the raids were launched to ascertain the alleged source of funding for the banned outfit. The central government had on September 28, 2022 declared the PFI as an 'unlawful association' under UAPA and imposed a ban on it for five years.

HC asks ED to file affidavit on Jet founder plea challenging his arrest

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its affidavit in response to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal's plea challenging his "illegal" arrest in a money laundering case linked to bank loan default. Goyal, in his plea, claimed his arrest was illegal as it was done without following provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and also challenged orders of a special court which had sent him to the ED custody first and thereafter to jail under judicial remand. When the plea was taken up for hearing on Wednesday by the HC, advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing for the central agency, sought time to file their reply affidavit. Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for the 74-year-old businessman, urged the court to grant a short date for hearing and pointed to his client's advanced age. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse then said it has to give the other side time to respond. "He (Goyal) can file .

SC refuses to entertain Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's plea against ED summons

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's plea against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons in a case of alleged money laundering. A bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M Trivedi granted Soren the liberty to approach the Jharkhand High Court for relief in the matter. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi claimed in the court that this is a complete case of a witch-hunt. "Mr Rohatgi, why don't you go to the high court? No no, go to the high court. We will permit you to withdraw," the bench said. The matter was dismissed as withdrawn. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, submitted that the issue is covered by a large number of judgments. Soren has moved the apex court challenging the summons sent to him to depose at the federal agency's office in Ranchi on August 14 and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Earlier, Soren had skipped the ED's summons in an alleged defence

ED arrests Anil Kumar Meena, RPSC member Babulal Katara in paper leak case

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Babulal Katara, Member of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), and Anil Kumar Meena in connection with the Paper Leak case in Rajasthan, officials said Saturday. Katara and Meena were arrested under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act and sent to the custody of ED for three days by a special court, they said. The Directorate had taken over the case filed by Rajasthan Police in connection with the leak of the General Knowledge paper conducted by RPSC for the recruitment of Senior Teacher Grade II between December 21 and 24, 2022. It is alleged that Katara leaked the paper and sold it to Meena who through his syndicate supplied it to candidates for Rs 8-10 lakh, they said. "Earlier, ED conducted a search at 15 premises of accused persons on 05.06.2023, resulting in recovery of incriminating documents/digital records. Further, ED has also provisionally attached movable & immovable properties worth Rs 3.11 Crore (approx)

Jharkhand CM Soren's plea against ED summons to be heard on Sept 18

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to September 18 the hearing on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's plea against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons in an alleged money laundering case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi deferred the matter after it was informed that senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi would appear in the matter for Soren. "I am requesting the matter be heard on Monday. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi is leading us," a junior counsel said. The bench agreed to the submission. Soren has moved the apex court challenging the summons sent to him to depose on August 14 at the federal agency's office in Ranchi and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Earlier, Soren had skipped the ED summons in an alleged defence land scam case citing pre-scheduled events. The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED on November 17 last year in connection with another money launderin

Delhi excise policy case: ED summons K Kavitha for questioning on Friday

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned BRS leader and the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, K Kavitha, at its Delhi office on Friday for questioning in connection with the excise policy case in the national capital, officials said. Kavitha was questioned several times at the ED headquarters in March and had to submit her mobile phones to the federal agency. It is alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital. The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor had recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). During its probe, the ED had recorded the statement of Butchibabu, an accountant allegedly linked to Kavitha, in which he had said "there was ...

Adhir slams Mamata over ED summons to Abhishek in coal 'scam' case

The summons to the TMC MP came weeks after the central probe agency conducted raids in the office of 'Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd'