Page 69 - Enforcement Directorate

Hindenburg 2.0? Soros-backed OCCRP said to be planning another 'expose'

Months after a US short seller shook markets with a damning report on the Adani group, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) - an organisation funded by likes of George Soros and Rockefeller Brothers Fund - is said to be planning another 'expose' on certain corporate houses in India, sources said. OCCRP, which calls itself "an investigative reporting platform formed by 24 nonprofit investigative centres... spread across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, may publish a report or a series of articles, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. An email sent to OCCRP seeking comments remained unanswered. Founded in 2006, OCCRP claims to specialize in reporting on organized crime and largely publishes these news articles through partnerships with media houses. On its website, it identifies the Open Society Foundations of George Soros, a financier with a penchant for funding radical causes around the world, as one of the institutional donors. Others ...

ED files charge sheet against Supertech's chairman in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Thursday filed a charge sheet against R K Arora, chairman and promoter of real estate major Supertech Group, his company, and eight others in a money laundering case, accusing them of hatching a "criminal conspiracy" to cheat home buyers. They have been accused of defrauding at least 670 home buyers of Rs 164 crore. The nearly 100-page prosecution complaint, ED's equivalent of charge sheet, was filed before Special Judge Devender Kumar Jangala, claiming there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Arora for laundering money. The court posted the matter for August 28 for taking cognisance of the charge sheet. Arora was arrested on June 27 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after three rounds of questioning. The money-laundering case against the Supertech group, its directors and promoters stems from a clutch of FIRs registered by police in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K

Rajasthan elections: CM calls ED raids in Chhattisgarh a 'birthday gift'

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot referred to recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in Chhattisgarh as a birthday gift for Bhupesh Baghel, as these raids often occur around election times

Bhupesh Baghel's political advisor denies involvement in money laundering

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's political advisor Vinod Verma on Thursday claimed he does not have a "single penny" of ill-gotten money, a day after the Enforcement Directorate conducted a search at his residence. Addressing a press conference here, Vinod Verma also said he has no connection with assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Chandrabhushan Verma, arrested along with three others by the ED on Wednesday in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal betting app called 'Mahadev Online Book'. Alleged hawala operator brothers Anil and Sunil Dammani and a man identified as Satish Chandrakar are the three others arrested in the case. According to the ED, the probe has found that around Rs 65 crore cash was received by ASI Chandrabhushan Verma. He kept his cut and distributed the rest as bribes to senior police officers and politicians, it claimed. The ED on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of Vinod Verma, who is also a member of the All India Congress .

ED freezes Rs 28 lakh deposits of Kerala CPI(M) MLA Moideen, wife

The ED on Wednesday said it has frozen bank and fixed deposits worth Rs 28 lakh of Kerala CPI(M) MLA A C Moideen and his wife, a day after conducting searches against him and others in a money laundering case. The case is linked to the alleged Rs 150 crore fraud in the party-controlled Karuvannur cooperative bank. The searches, launched at five locations across Kerala on Tuesday, have also led to the "seizure of 36 properties valued at Rs 15 crore, being proceeds of crime", it said in a statement. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said the raids were conducted to probe "benamis and beneficiaries who siphoned off bank funds of more than Rs 150 crore from Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank Ltd". Two orders were issued for freezing bank deposits and fixed deposits worth Rs 28 lakh found to be in the "possession of" A C Moideen and his wife, the ED said. It said the probe has found that "on the instructions of certain persons, who were district-level leaders and committee members of .

ED raids aimed at tarnishing INDIA bloc's image before 2024 polls: Congress

The Congress, a constituent of the ruling JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand, on Wednesday described ED raids at premises linked to a state minister's son and some others as a 'political vendetta' at the behest of the BJP government at the Centre to tarnish the image of opposition bloc INDIA before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Several of the places raided by the ED as part of a money laundering investigation in connection with an alleged liquor scam in the state were linked to senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Rameshwar Oroan's son Rohit Oraon. "The ED raids are nothing but an action of a political vendetta at the behest of the BJP at the Centre to tarnish the image of the INDIA alliance before the 2024 parliamentary elections," Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur told PTI. He demanded that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should clarify its stance first. The Congress leader asked, Is the ED conducting similar raids in the entire country, or liquor is sold only in Jharkha

ED raids in Chhattisgarh show BJP afraid of election results: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said the ongoing Enforcement Directorate "raids" in Chhattisgarh were a reaction to the pre-poll surveys predicting a "massive rout" for the BJP, and asserted that its government will not get bogged down by such "threats". The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's political advisor Vinod Verma and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD), sources said. Reacting to the development, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "The ongoing ED raids in Chattisgarh are a clear reaction to all the pre-poll surveys that have predicted a massive rout for the BJP." "Our pro-people Congress government will not get bogged down by such threats. We have the power of the people behind us," Khera said in a post on X. The ED searches were also held at the premises of a businessman in Durg. The exact case in connection with which the searches were being conducted was not yet

ED conducts searches at premises of CM Baghel's political advisor, OSD

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at the premises of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's political advisor Vinod Verma and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD), sources said. The searches were also held at the premises of a businessman in Durg, they said. The exact case in connection with which the searches were being conducted was not yet known. Reacting to the ED's action, CM Baghel in a sarcastic post on X said, "Respected Prime Minister and Mr. Amit Shah! Thank you very much for the priceless gift you have given me on my birthday by sending ED to my political advisor, OSD and close aides." Some paramilitary personnel were seen at the residence of Vinod Verma in the Officers Colony at Devendra Nagar in state capital Raipur. The ED has been investigating different cases in Chhattisgarh pertaining to an alleged coal scam, liquor scam, irregularities in the District Mineral Foundation fund and an online betting application. In the last two days

ED raid at my house pre-planned: Kerala's Moideen on bank fraud case

: Senior CPI (M) leader A C Moideen MLA on Wednesday termed the raid carried out by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at his residence here as "pre-planned," and said he would co-operate with any investigation. The central agency conducted a 22-hour-long search at his house in connection with the money laundering probe linked to an alleged Rs 100 crore fraud in the party-controlled Karuvannur cooperative bank here. The search began on Tuesday morning, and continued till early today. The ED sleuths left at 5.15 am. Addressing the media, the former minister of Cooperation and Industries said the investigators verified his bank account details and that of his family members besides checking other property documents kept at the residence. "The ED officials searched the entire premises. My bank account details, as well as those of my wife and daughter, were examined. The property documents kept at the house were also examined," he said. He said he was told by the investigators that one

ED issues summons to J'khand CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

ED has asked the Jharkhand CM Soren to join its investigation in the alleged money laundering case on August 24

SC to hear Rahul Gandhi's appeal against Gujarat HC verdict on July 21

From refusing to pass directions to prohibit the slaughter of cow to reserving verdict on the rules of game for judoicial appointment, here's a list of important developments in the apex court today

Ordinance on services matter was brought as money power: Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday attacked the BJP-led Centre, saying the ordinance on services matter was brought as money power and the threat of the ED and the CBI failed in Delhi. In a speech in the Assembly, he also claimed that the BJP has brought the "Sanghi" model of democracy through the Services Bill while asserting that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be fought on the issue of full statehood for the national capital. Kejriwal alleged that the "democratic rights of the people of Delhi were trampled through the ordinance and the bill". "There are several styles of democratic systems like the Westminister style and parliamentary style. These people (BJP) have brought the Sanghi style of democracy through this bill," he said. "The ordinance on services matter was brought because money power and the threat of the ED and the CBI had failed in Delhi," he added. Kejriwal also claimed that recently, someone from BJP had threatened him, saying, "We will make you bow ...

Soren unlikely to appear before ED for questioning in money laundering case

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is unlikely to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here on Monday in connection with a money laundering case, a source said. The ED had on August 8 summoned Soren to depose on August 14 at the federal agency's office here and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. "The chief minister is unlikely to appear before the ED today in view of his busy schedule. He may request for another date from the agency," the source said. Soren was to be questioned in an alleged defence land scam case. The 48-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED on November 18 last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state. The central probe agency is investigating more than a dozen land deals, including one related to defence land, wherein a group of land mafia, middlemen and bureaucrats allegedly connived to forge deeds and documents of as long back

CBI, ED work independently, no interference from govt: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said probe agencies like the CBI and the ED operate independently and the central government does not interfere in their work. Responding to a question regarding opposition parties' allegations of misuse of the investigating agencies by the Centre, he told reporters here that the earlier UPA regime rather used them for their political interests. "Those who say that the present government is using or misusing all these institutions Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are at least speaking of their own mindset." "They are speaking of UPA times when they were indulging like this. (When) they were manipulating the agencies to their advantage, to their political interest to the extent that the Supreme Court was constrained to say the term caged parrot," said Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel. He said the remarks of "caged parrot" was made when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was at

ED produces Balaji before city court after custody ends, remand till Aug 25

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday produced Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case, before a sessions court here, after completion of its custody. Principal Sessions Judge S Alli before whom Senthil Balaji was produced by the ED, remanded him to judicial custody till August 25. The judge had on August 7 permitted the ED to take custody of Senthil Balaji for 5 days for the purpose of interrogation in connection with the case. Since the custody came to an end on Saturday, the ED produced him before the judge. Balaji was arrested in June in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam while being Transport minister in the earlier AIADMK regime.

ED probes Karat-Singham email exchange, fund transfers to scribes

The ED, according to the sources, is investigating the 'end use' of the funds

Delhi HC seeks ED's stand on bail plea by Vijay Nair in Excise policy case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the stand of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by businessman and Aam Aadmi Party's communication in-charge Vijay Nair seeking default bail in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice on the bail application and granted time to the investigation agency to file its reply. Nair, who was arrested on November 13, 2022, was refused default bail in the case by the trial court on July 29. The trial court had dismissed the bail plea, saying it was not the competent or an appropriate forum to consider the grounds of default bail of the accused and the appropriate course would be to approach the same judge or bench of the high court, which had earlier dismissed his bail plea, with a request for consideration of the point. Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Nair, contended before the high court that the ED filed piecemeal charge sheets in the matter and the accused was

ED summons Jharkhand CM for interrogation in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for interrogation in a money laundering case, an official said here on Tuesday. He has been asked to depose on August 14 at the federal agency's office here and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the official said. He is expected to be questioned in an alleged defence land scam case. The 47-year-old Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was interrogated for over nine hours by the ED in November last year in another money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in the state. Neither Soren nor his office has reacted to the fresh summons. BJP MP from the state Deepak Prakash Tuesday demanded Soren's resignation alleging that he was involved in the defence land scam in connivance with corrupt bureaucrats of the state. Claiming to have been the first to have exposed the defence land scam, he said "We had requested the ED to investigate the case. Today, the result is that aft

ED seizes Rs 1,144 cr crime proceeds, arrests 20 in crypto fraud cases

The Enforcement Directorate has seized proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 1,144 crore and arrested 20 persons in cases related to frauds in cryptocurrency/ virtual digital assets, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Monday. Further, under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) assets amounting to Rs 270.18 crore have been seized under section 37A of FEMA and one show cause notice to cryptocurrency exchange Zanmai Labs Pvt Ltd, known as WazirX, and its Directors under FEMA for transactions involving cryptocurrencies worth Rs 2,790.74 crore has also been issued. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, as per the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the anonymity associated with virtual assets attracts criminals. "The Directorate of Enforcement is investigating several cases related to crypto currency / virtual digital currency frauds wherein a few crypto exchanges have also been found involved in money laundering," Chaudhary said. The ED has taken action as per ..

SC dismisses plea of Senthil Balaji against HC order allowing ED custody

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh while dismissing the plea of Balaji allowed his custodial interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in cash for a job scam