Page 77 - Enforcement Directorate

Chhattisgarh money laundering case: SC pulls ED, says don't create fear

From pulling up ED in Chhattisgarh money laundering case to questioning the source of power of Delhi-LG while nominating 10 aldermen, here are the important cases of the day

ED searches LYCA Productions in Chennai in money laundering probe: Report

Earlier ED said it had carried out search operations at 21 locations in Delhi and Gurugram in connection with Amira Pure Foods Private Limited, Karan A Chanana and others

IL&FS money laundering case: ED issues fresh summons to NCP's Jayant Patil

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to Maharashtra NCP president and MLA Jayant Patil for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the now bankrupt financial services firm IL&FS, official sources said Monday The 61-year-old MLA from Islampur seat of Maharashtra was issued the first summons for appearance on May 12 but he had sought deferment for about 10 days citing some personal and official engagements. The politician has now been asked to appear on May 22, the sources said. Patil, a former minister of home and finance, is also the state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is a seven-term legislator. He had told reporters last week that he never had any association or financial dealing with IL&FS. Alleged payment of some "commission amount" by some accused companies to entities linked to Patil are under the scanner of the agency and it is understood he will be questioned about these ...

Court grants bail to Mirchi's aide in money laundering case, pulls up ED

A special PMLA court here on Friday granted bail to businessman Haroun Yusuf, arrested in 2019 in connection with a money laundering case also involving late gangster and drug smuggler Iqbal Mirchi, holding he had no knowledge regarding the latter's source of money. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the case, has claimed Yusuf had assisted Mirchi in buying properties in India using money earned through illegal activities. However, special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court judge MG Deshpande, while granting the accused bail, held that except bare allegations, there was nothing to show Yusuf had any knowledge regarding Mirchi's source of money. The judge also pulled up the central agency for delaying trial in the case. Based on multiple FIRs registered under provisions of the IPC and the NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) against Mirchi, the ED had registered its case against him, his family members and others. Mirchi died at the age of

NCP leader Jayant Patil does not appear before ED, cites family engagements

NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil on Friday did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here for recording statement in the the alleged IL&FS money laundering case. The ED had summoned him on Friday. Patil, who heads the Maharashtra unit of the Nationalist Congress Party, had on Thursday said he had written to the central agency seeking time as he had to attend some marriages in the family. The former state finance minister had also told reporters that he never had any association or financial dealings with Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS). Patil, who has held home and finance portfolios in the Maharashtra government in the past, has sought ten days for appearing before the agency, sources said. The ED on Wednesday carried out searches against two former auditor firms of IL&FS -- BSR and Associates and Deloitte Haskins and Sells -- in connection with its money laundering probe into alleged financial ...

I-T dept impounds Mukhtar Ansari's 'benami' land parcel in Ghazipur

The income tax department on Thursday issued a proclamation for impounding a Rs 12-crore land piece, alleged to be a benami asset of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, in this district, official sources said. A team of officials from the department's Lucknow investigation unit accompanied by district authorities and local police erected an iron-made notice board at 'Mauja Kapurpur NZA' under Sadar Tehsil in the district, the sources told PTI. The I-T department is impounding this property temporarily under the benami assets law and any sale/purchase or transfer of this asset is prohibited, the board embossed with the department's logo and message said. A senior official also read out the proclamation to the public present around. As per the process, once the Adjudicating Authority of the Benami assets law approves the I-T department order, the property can be confiscated permanently. The department's Lucknow headquartered benami assets investigation unit attached this property la

Delhi liquor scam: HC calls for ED's stand on bail plea of YSRC MP's son

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought to know the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) stand on a plea moved by Raghav Magunta, the son of YSR Congress Party MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, seeking interim bail in a money-laundering case related to an alleged liquor scam in the national capital. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma asked the ED's counsel to take instructions in the matter and listed it for further hearing on May 15. Magunta has sought interim bail on the ground of his wife's medical condition. He has challenged a trial court's May 8 order that dismissed his interim bail plea. The trial court had said it could not be ignored that the accused was being prosecuted for the offence of money laundering, a serious economic offence. It had said it was not satisfied with the history of the ailment of Magunta's wife as nothing special or serious was stated about her condition in the documents placed before it. Other family members of the accused could also take care of his wife, the cour

Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Court extends custody of Raipur Mayor's brother

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made two fresh arrests of a hotel trader and liquor businessman in the Rs 2,000 crore alleged liquor syndicate scam linked money laundering case of Chhattisgarh, official sources said Thursday. Nitesh Purohit, promoter of Giriraj hotel located in state capital Raipur, was arrested on Wednesday noon while Pappu Dhillon was arrested on Thursday, they said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday accused the ED of trying to implicate him in the alleged liquor scam in the state. The ED has been acting as an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he claimed while talking to reporters at the Police Lines helipad in Raipur. Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, was the first person to be arrested by the agency in this case last week. The agency told the court on Wednesday that Purohit was allegedly "aware of the illegal operations of Anwar Dhebar and willingly assisted him in movement of proceed

ED searches Deloitte, BSR offices in IL&FS money laundering probe

According to ED, statutory audit of IFIN has been made by Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP between FY09 and FY18 and by BSR & Associates for FY18

ED searches may tarnish Manappuram's business prospects: Fitch report

Fitch Ratings on Wednesday said the recent search by the enforcement directorate at gold-backed lender Manappuram Finance highlights corporate governance challenges that can arise in emerging markets like India. "Such searches need not lead to further regulatory action, but investigations raise reputational risk that could tarnish a lender's business prospects and constrict funding access due to reduced market confidence - potentially affecting an issuer's credit profile - even if no wrongdoing is identified," Fitch added. The rating agency said Manappuram Finance Ltd has disclosed that the Enforcement Directorate's search at its premises pertained to legacy non-compliant activities at its branches up until 2012. Such searches are relatively rare, and can flag potential governance risks, but the activities the company has identified thus far as being involved are publicly known and Fitch has already factored them into its rating, "including our assessment of the company's corporate

ED attaches assets of 2 Congress MLAs, PCC treasurer in coal levy case

Ninety immovable assets, luxury vehicles, jewellery and cash worth over Rs 51 crore belonging to Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs Devender Yadav, Chandradev Prasad Rai and PCC treasurer Ramgopal Agarwal among others have been attached in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal coal levy in the state, the ED said on Tuesday. The properties frozen also belong to IAS officer Ranu Sahu, coal trader and prime accused in the case-- Suryakant Tiwari-- apart from state Congress spokesperson R P Singh and local party leader Vinod Tiwari. Sahu was questioned by the ED few months back when she was officiating as the Raigad district collector. The properties have been provisionally attached under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency said in a statement. They are worth a total Rs 51.40 crore. The federal probe agency claimed that it has "established direct evidence of financial linkages of the above persons with Suryakant Tiwari." "Assets creat

ED director Mishra's tenure extended due to FATF review: Centre to SC

The Centre on Monday defended in the Supreme Court the third extension of service granted to Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, asserting it was due to a peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year and said he will retire this November. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the third extension given to Mishra and the amendment carried out in law extending the maximum tenure of ED director to five years. "Arguments heard. Order reserved," the bench said, as it directed the parties to file their written submissions by Friday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre said, "This officer is not some DGP of any state but an officer representing the country in a United Nation like body and is in the midst of something. This court must not interfere with his tenure and from November onwards, he will not be there." He said Mishra was given extension

Court order in Delhi excise policy matter shows this case is bogus: AAP

The AAP on Sunday demanded that the BJP tender an apology to it for levelling false allegations against the party in connection with the excise policy case following a court granting bail to two accused in the matter. Addressing a press conference, AAP senior leader and Cabinet minister Atishi said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has levelled two allegations that Rs 100 crore kickbacks were received from liquor businessesmen and the money was used in Goa elections. "Yesterday, the Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Rajesh Joshi and Gautam Malhotra. The court order said no evidence had been kept forth by the ED showing any cash payment for bribe or kickbacks. The order said the ED attached some vague statements by witnesses," she added. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that the entire case is "bogus" and only meant to malign his party. "Now even Court has said that there is no material evidence of any kickback or money laundering. We have been saying right from beginni

Unprecedented corruption in sale of liquor in Chhattisgarh, says ED

Money was "illegally" collected from "every bottle" of liquor sold in Chhattisgarh and evidence of "unprecedented" corruption and laundering of Rs 2,000 crore generated by an alcohol syndicate led by Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, has been collected, the ED said on Sunday. Anwar Debhar was arrested by the federal agency under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the early hours of Saturday from a hotel in Raipur while he was trying "to run from the back door", it said in a statement. He was remanded to four-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody by a special PMLA court even as his lawyer said the arrest seemed to be "politically motivated" and that they would move the Supreme Court. The agency said Anwar Dhebar did not join the probe in the case despite being summoned seven times and charged that he was "continuously using benami SIM cards and internet dongles, and was changing locations". When he was zeroed in a

Excise case: Delhi court lists ED's charge sheet against Sisodia on May 10

On ED apprising the court that hard copy of the supplementary charge sheet has been filed, the judge directed it to file the soft copies of the charge sheet by May 8

ED acting on 'malafide' FIR related to 10-yr-old case: Manappuram Finance

He also clarified that the total value of shares attached by ED is worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore, not around Rs 140 crore as stated

Excise policy scam: Delhi court to hear businessman's bail plea on May 12

A Delhi court will hear on May 12 the bail application of businessman Amandeep Singh Dhall, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal fixed the matter for hearing arguments on the bail application on a join request made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the accused. The ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta sought adjournment on the ground that the court has summoned Dhall and other co-accused on May 12 in pursuance to a supplementary prosecution complaint (ED's equivalent of a charge sheet) filed by the central probe agency against them. The counsel for Dhall also sought adjournment for addressing arguments on his bail application. "Hence, at joint request, the application is directed to be listed on May 12, for arguments. Accused be produced physically on the next date, as requested, the judge said in an order passed on May 4. The Delhi court on April 28 dismissed AAP leader and former Delhi minister Manish .

ED, CBI won't help BJP get votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took potshots at the BJP, saying that central agencies such as CBI and ED will not help the saffron party get votes in next year's general elections. The Trinamool Congress supremo called upon all opposition parties in the country to unite and fight the BJP together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "I urge all opposition parties to unitedly fight the BJP in the 2024 elections. The BJP is using the ED and the CBI to harass opposition leaders, but agencies will not help it get votes," Banerjee said while speaking at a government programme where she handed over land deeds to those who have lost their lands to river erosion at Samsherganj in Murshidabad district. She alleged that despite several requests to the BJP-led Union government, the state administration has not received any help in arresting Ganga erosion, which is a major issue in Murshidabad and Malda districts. Banerjee claimed that the state did not get its share of Rs 70

CBI, ED will not help saffron party get votes in Lok Sabha polls: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took potshots at the BJP, saying that central agencies such as CBI and ED will not help the saffron party get votes in next year's general elections. Addressing a government programme in Samsherganj in Murshidabad district, the Trinamool Congress supremo called upon all opposition parties in the country to unite and fight the BJP together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She alleged that despite several requests to the BJP-led Union government, the state administration has not received any help in arresting Ganga erosion, which is a major issue in Murshidabad and Malda districts. Banerjee handed over 'pattas' (land deeds) to those who lost their lands to river erosion in the area.

Manappuram Finance says enforcement action against promoter, not company

Manappuram's promoter, V.P. Nandakumar, said in the notification that the probe was not related to the company but a private entity called Manappuram Agro Farms, which is no longer in existence