Page 21 - Money Laundering Case

Pak may exit FATF's grey list during watchdog's Oct 20-21 plenary: report

Pakistan is likely to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this week after it was placed in the infamous category since 2018 for failing to check money laundering and terrorist financing, a media report said on Monday. Pakistan was included in the increased monitoring list in June 2018 for deficiencies in its legal, financial, regulatory, investigations, prosecution, judicial and non-government sector to fight money laundering and combat terror financing considered serious threat to global financial system, the Dawn newspaper reported. The Paris-based global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing said that the first FATF Plenary under the two-year Singapore Presidency of T. Raja Kumar will take place on October 20-21. Pakistan has made high-level political commitments to address these deficiencies under a 27-point action plan. But later the number of action points was enhanced to 34. The country had since been vigorously working with FATF and i

ED files chargesheet against journalist Rana Ayyub in money laundering case

Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against journalist Rana Ayyub under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in Special Court, Ghaziabad on Wednesday.ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered on September 7, 2021 by the Indirapuram police station, Ghaziabad, UP, under various sections of IPC 1860, Information Technology Amendment Act 2008 and Black Money Act against Rana Ayyub alleging that she illegally acquired funds from the general public in the name of charity by launching fund-raiser campaigns on an online crowdfunding platform-'Ketto'.It was also alleged that Rana Ayyub is a journalist by profession and received foreign contributions without registration under FCRA. ED investigation revealed that Rana Ayyub launched three fundraiser campaigns on 'Ketto platform' starting from April 2020, and collected funds totalling to Rs 2.70 crore. She collected funds in the name of helping slum dwellers and farmers, relief

ED arrests IAS officer, 2 others in money laundering case in Chhattisgarh

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday arrested IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi and two other people after it conducted raids in a money laundering case in Chhattisgarh, officials said. Businessman Sunil Agrawal of Indramani group and Laxmikant Tiwari, uncle of "absconding" businessman Suryakant Tiwari, have been taken into custody in the morning by the federal agency from state capital Raipur, they said. The three people have been arrested under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and will be produced before a local court, where the ED will seek their further custody. Vishnoi, CEO of the Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society, was questioned by the agency in Raipur on Wednesday. The arrests came after the agency launched multiple raids in Chhattisgarh on October 11 in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal levy extorted from transporters in the state by a purported nexus of government officials, businessmen and private entities. The agency h

SC issues notice to ED on Satyendar Jain's plea against Delhi HC order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea filed by Delhi minister Satyendar Jain challenging the Delhi High Court verdict dismissing his petition against a lower court order to transfer the money laundering case to another court. A bench of Justices M R Shah and Krishna Murari issued notice to the ED and posted the case for hearing on October 31. On October 1, the high court had dismissed Jain's plea, saying all facts were duly considered by the Principal District and Sessions Judge while transferring the case, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and it cannot be held that the decision suffered from any illegality or needed interference. Jain, who is under arrest in the case, had moved the high court challenging the September 23 order of Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta transferring the money laundering case to another judge over alleged bias. The district judge's order was passed on an

Mumbai court extends Sanjay Raut's custody in money laundering case

A special court here on Monday extended by 14 days the judicial custody of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, an accused in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Raut was produced in the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court as his judicial custody expired on Monday. Special judge M G Deshpande, who is hearing the bail application of Raut, extended his custody by another 14 days. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for ED, on Monday made his submissions against Raut's bail plea in the court. Raut was arrested by the ED on August 1 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra 'chawl' in Mumbai. He is currently in judicial custody. The ED probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities of Rs 1,034 crore pertaining to the redevelopment of the chawl or tenements in suburban Goregaon and related financial transactions allegedly involving his wife and associates. Singh argued that a l

SC to hear Satyendar Jain's plea against transfer of bail plea on Tuesday

Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain has moved the Supreme Court against the transfer of his bail plea in a money laundering case to another judge, on the ED's request

ED seizes Rs 1 cr cash after raids in connection with Delhi Excise policy

The Enforcement Directorate has seized about Rs 1 crore in cash after raids conducted in connection with a money laundering investigation into the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, official sources said Saturday. The searches were launched on Friday at about 35 locations in Delhi-NCR, Punjab and Telangana's capital Hyderabad. About a crore cash has been seized from a location during the raids conducted against liquor businessmen, distribution companies and linked entities, sources said. Some digital devices and documents were also seized, they said without disclosing the locations of all the recoveries. Premises linked to a director of a Delhi-based TV news organisation, who is also on the board of a Telugu daily, a city-based businessman whose company imports and distributes various alcoholic beverages and a former Punjab MLA were also searched by ED officials, they said. The federal agency has conducted more than 103 raids in this case till now and

ED attaches Rs 1.54-cr worth assets against Amnesty India under PMLA

Assets worth Rs 1.54 crore of a charitable trust linked to international human rights organisation Amnesty India have been attached under the anti-money laundering law, the Enforcement Directorate said Friday. A provisional order for attachment has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it said. The order has been issued against the trust -- Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) -- in connection with a case linked to alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by the India arm of the global organisation. The federal agency, whose case stems from a CBI FIR against Amnesty India, issued a statement saying the Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) was granted permission under the FCRA, 2010 during 2011-12 for receiving foreign contributions from the Amnesty International UK. "However, the same was cancelled and permission/registration has been denied," it said. The Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL) an

HC grants bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in ED case

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money laundering case. Justice N J Jamadar pronounced the order. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the HC to hear and decide the NCP leader's plea expeditiously as it was pending for six months. His lawyers Vikram Chaudhari and Aniket Nikam argued that considering his age (72), health and the fact that he had no criminal antecedents he should be granted bail. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the application arguing that Deshmukh did not suffer from any ailments that cannot be treated at jail hospital. Arrested by the ED in November 2021, Deshmukh is now in judicial custody. The ED booked him after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against him following allegations made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh. The ED claimed that Deshmukh misused his ...

ED initiates probe against Chinese app that 'cheated' job seekers

The ED has initiated a probe against a Chinese "controlled" mobile app that allegedly duped a number of youngsters in lieu of providing them part-time jobs that included "liking" and uploading celebrity videos on social media platforms. The federal agency said on Monday it has raided at least 12 entities in Bengaluru that are linked to the app -- 'Keepsharer' -- following which it seized funds worth Rs 5.85 crore. The probe found that "gullible public, mostly youth, were cheated by some Chinese persons through a mobile app namely Keepsharer which promised them to give part-time job and collected money from them", the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said in a statement. The Chinese formed companies here and recruited several Indians as directors, translators (Mandarin to English and vice-versa), HR managers and tele-callers, the ED said. "They obtained the documents of Indians and opened bank accounts. The accused Chinese persons developed the app and started its advertisement through

PFI involved in money laundering, ED tells court, 3 accused sent to jail

Popular Front of India (PFI) has been involved in continuous offences of money laundering over the years, the Enforcement Directorate Friday told a Delhi Court which remanded three arrested office bearers of the banned outfit to 14 days of judicial custody. The agency also said that its investigation had revealed that the accused persons played an active role in raising or receiving bogus cash donations on behalf of PFI. The agency arrested the three accused, Perwez Ahmad, President of PFI Delhi, Mohd. Ilias, general secretary of the Delhi unit, and its office secretary Abdul Muqeet on September 22 for their alleged role in the offence of money laundering in the guise of cash donations. Additional Sessions Judge Shailender Malik remanded the three accused to 14 days of judicial custody after they were produced before him on completion of their seven days of custodial interrogation. The ED in its remand application said Prevention of money laundering Act (PMLA) investigation has ...

ED files complaint against DoT official in disproportionate assets case

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint against a senior Department of Telecommunications officer and a few others before a special court in Kolkata under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a disproportionate assets case. The court has taken cognisance of the offence of money laundering in the prosecution complaint against Soumyendra Nath Banerjee, a former deputy director general, new technology, DoT, Kolkata, and a few others filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, an ED statement said. The ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI, ACB, Kolkata for offences punishable under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As per the charge-sheet filed by the CBI, ACB, Kolkata, Banerjee had allegedly amassed huge assets, beyond his known source of income, and was in a possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs 7.58 crore, the statement said. The ED investigation reveal

ED freezes crypto currency, Tether worth Rs 47.64 lakh under PMLA

The Enforcement Directorate has freezed crypto currencies and Tether, an Ethereum token that is pegged to the value of a US dollar, equivalent to Rs 47.64 lakh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This has come following an investigation conducted by the ED against a person named Aamir Khan and others relating to the Mobile gaming application, E-nuggets, According to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) statement. The ED initiated the money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered on February 15, 2021 under various sections of IPC by the Park Street police station in Kolkata against Khan and a few others based on complaint filed by the Federal Bank in a Kolkata court. Khan launched a mobile gaming application namely E-Nuggets, which was designed for the purpose of defrauding public. Further, after collecting handsome amount from the public, all of a sudden, the withdrawal from the said app was stopped on the pretext of one and other ...

ED freezes OctaFx Trading's bank balance of Rs 21.14 cr under FEMA

The Enforcement Directorate said it has frozen the bank balance to the tune of Rs 21.14 cr of OctaFx and related entities in the case of illegal online forex trading through international brokers

Kolkata gaming app: ED freezes crypto assets worth Rs 12.83 crore

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has frozen bitcoins worth Rs 12.83 crore as part of an ongoing money laundering probe against the promoter of a Kolkata-based mobile gaming app firm that is alleged to have duped a number of people. Crypto currency worth 77.62710139 bitcoins is kept in the Binance crypto exchange and it belongs to a person named Aamir Khan who owns a mobile gaming application called E-Nuggets, the federal probe agency said in a statement. The ED had raided the premises of the company and that of Khan and his father Nesar Ahmed Khan in Kolkata early this month and seized Rs 17.32 crore cash from there. Aamir Khan was arrested by the detective department of the Kolkata Police from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh last week. The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by the Kolkata Police against the company and its promoters in February 2021. This FIR was registered at the Park Street police station based on a complaint filed by the Federal Bank ...

Online gaming: ED raids company, freezes Rs 68 crore worth of deposits

The Enforcement Directorate has frozen more than Rs 68 crore worth of deposits after it raided a company and its related entities that ran mobile games and allegedly duped a number of people, including children, by extracting "unauthorised" payments from them and later transferred these to Singapore. The federal probe agency said in a statement that it searched three premises of Coda Payments India Pvt Ltd (CPIPL) as part of a money laundering investigation and added the company has collected Rs 2,850 crore till date, out of which Rs 2,265 crore was remitted "outside" India after retaining certain percentage of revenue for payment of taxes and nominal profits here. The ED said the company ran mobile games such as Garena Free Fire, Teen Patti Gold, Call of Duty and its money laundering case against the company was registered after taking cognisance of multiple police FIRs filed against the company and in some cases, the gaming portals too. "It is alleged that Coda Payments India Pvt.

Rs 200-cr money laundering case: Court grants interim bail to Jacqueline

A Delhi court on Monday granted interim bail to actor Jacqueline Fernandez in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar. The court also sought a response from Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the regular bail plea of the actor who claimed to herself a victim of circumstances. Special Judge Shailender Malik granted Fernandez interim relief on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and posted the matter for further hearing on October 22. In her regular bail plea, Fernandez, a citizen of Sri Lanka, said that she was a tax-paying resident of India since 2009 and her professional reputation and future work commitments were intrinsically linked to the country. The actor said that she had consistently appeared before the investigating agency as and when summoned and her statements under the relevant section of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were recorded five times. In terms of the permission granted to her by the court, she travelled abroad

ED attaches properties of Rajkot-based firm in money laundering case

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable assets worth Rs 16 crore under the PMLA, 2002 in connection with a case against Mandeep Industries, Rajkot

ABG Shipyard: ED attaches assets worth Rs 2,747 cr in money laundering case

The ED on Thursday said it has attached dockyards, agricultural lands, commercial properties and bank deposits worth more than Rs 2,747 crore as part of an alleged bank loan fraud linked money laundering investigation against ABG Shipyard Ltd, its group companies and linked entities. The seized properties include shipyards located at Surat and Dahej in Gujarat, agricultural lands and plots, various commercial and residential premises in Gujarat and Maharashtra and bank accounts owned by ABG Shipyard Ltd., its group companies and other related entities, the federal agency said in a statement. The total value of the provisionally attached assets, under the Prevention of Money Laundering (Act), is Rs 2,747.69 crore. The Enforcement Directorate action comes a day after the CBI arrested the founder of the company Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal. Probe found that the ABG Shipyard Ltd. and its Chairman & Managing Director Agarwal availed various credit facilities/loans from consortium of Banks led

ED cases against opposition candidates up four-fold under NDA government

Out of the total 121 cases against politicians under Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe currently, 115 or 95 per cent are against Opposition leaders