News Analysis India

Tag: ED

  • Money laundering case: SC extends Satyendar Jain’s medical interim bail by five weeks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has allowed five weeks’ extension on the interim bail plea granted to former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds in an ED-registered money laundering case.

    The relief was given by the bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Bela M. Trivedi after Jain’s counsel and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi submitted that his client had undergone a spine surgery on July 21 and needed time to recover.

    Representing the central agency, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, did not oppose the submission.

    Raju said, ED wanted its application seeking independent evaluation of Jain by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or any other hospital to be heard on the next date.

    Accordingly, the matter adjourned for next hearing after five weeks.

    AAP senior leader Satyendra Kumar Jain was earlier granted an extension of his medical interim bail from July 10 till July 24.

    On May 26, the apex court granted interim bail to the former Minister for six weeks on medical grounds, saying a citizen had a right to receive treatment of his choice in a private hospital at his own expense.

    Jain had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the case on May 30 last year and is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him.

    As per an earlier trial court order, “Jain is the conceptualizer, visualizer and executor of the entire operation and his being aided and abated by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain (co-accused persons in the case).”

    “The fact that Satyendar Kumar Jain wrote a letter to income tax authorities to adjust his demand of tax against the tax deposited by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain shows their close complicity,” as per the central agency’s argument.

    The order contended that “the plea of Satyendar Kumar Jain that he was not found in physical possession of any property needs to be rejected out-rightly as for the offence of money laundering the physical possession of proceeds of crime is not necessary. Similarly, the fact that shares so acquired were transferred back to Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain will also make no difference as it may again be done to conceal the proceeds of crime or projected as a untainted money.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has allowed five weeks’ extension on the interim bail plea granted to former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds in an ED-registered money laundering case.

    The relief was given by the bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Bela M. Trivedi after Jain’s counsel and senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi submitted that his client had undergone a spine surgery on July 21 and needed time to recover.

    Representing the central agency, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, did not oppose the submission.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Raju said, ED wanted its application seeking independent evaluation of Jain by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or any other hospital to be heard on the next date.

    Accordingly, the matter adjourned for next hearing after five weeks.

    AAP senior leader Satyendra Kumar Jain was earlier granted an extension of his medical interim bail from July 10 till July 24.

    On May 26, the apex court granted interim bail to the former Minister for six weeks on medical grounds, saying a citizen had a right to receive treatment of his choice in a private hospital at his own expense.

    Jain had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the case on May 30 last year and is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him.

    As per an earlier trial court order, “Jain is the conceptualizer, visualizer and executor of the entire operation and his being aided and abated by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain (co-accused persons in the case).”

    “The fact that Satyendar Kumar Jain wrote a letter to income tax authorities to adjust his demand of tax against the tax deposited by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain shows their close complicity,” as per the central agency’s argument.

    The order contended that “the plea of Satyendar Kumar Jain that he was not found in physical possession of any property needs to be rejected out-rightly as for the offence of money laundering the physical possession of proceeds of crime is not necessary. Similarly, the fact that shares so acquired were transferred back to Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain will also make no difference as it may again be done to conceal the proceeds of crime or projected as a untainted money.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Delhi HC seeks stand of NewsClick, its editor on ED plea against protection in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of news portal NewsClick and its editor-in-chief on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking vacation of an earlier order granting them protection from coercive action in a money laundering case.

    Issuing a notice to NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that prima facie, the investigation agency’s submissions for vacation of interim protection have merit and require deliberation.

    The application is part of the ongoing proceedings on a petition by the portal seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) lodged by the ED in the case.

    The ED counsel said new material has been unearthed, revealing the commission of the offence of money laundering.

    He also said the petition was not maintainable as the ECIR is an internal document that cannot be supplied and the petitioners cannot “piggyback” on the interim relief.

    This is a criminal conspiracy for “paid news” where crores of rupees have come in violation of laws, the ED’s counsel submitted.

    “Prima facie, in the opinion of this court, the above contention has merit and requires deliberation. In view thereof, issue notice,” Justice Banerjee said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick: ED probes Prakash Karat-billionaire Singham email exchanges, funds transfer to journalists

    Counsel for the petitioners said there was no urgency in the matter.

    In the application for vacation of the interim order, the ED said the Supreme Court has deprecated the practice of “blanket no coercive action” orders and such orders during the course of investigation virtually amount to granting anticipatory bail to the accused.

    “Since ECIR can no longer be provided to the accused and as for grant of anticipatory bail the twin conditions of Section 45 (PMLA) are required to be complied (with), the continuation of interim protection to the accused petitioner virtually amounts to grant of anticipatory bail in a PMLA case without the satisfaction of the twin conditions.

    Therefore, the orders dated 21.06.2021 and 29.07.2021 granting interim protection must be vacated at the earliest in view of the settled position of law,” the ED application said.

    On June 21 last year, the High Court directed the ED not to take any coercive action against NewsClick and Purkayastha in connection with the money laundering case.

    The interim protection was further extended on July 29, 2021.

    The ED initiated its probe on the basis of a Delhi Police FIR and has conducted searches on the premises of NewsClick and several other places in connection with the money received from overseas.

    According to the FIR, the petitioner company, PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, received foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during 2018-19.

    It alleged that the investment was made by greatly overvaluing the shares of the petitioner company to avoid the 26 per cent FDI cap in a digital news website.

    It was further alleged that over 45 per cent of this investment was diverted or siphoned off for the payment of salary/consultancy, rent and other expenses.

    Therefore, it is alleged that the company has violated FDI and other laws of the country and caused a loss to the government exchequer.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of news portal NewsClick and its editor-in-chief on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking vacation of an earlier order granting them protection from coercive action in a money laundering case.

    Issuing a notice to NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that prima facie, the investigation agency’s submissions for vacation of interim protection have merit and require deliberation.

    The application is part of the ongoing proceedings on a petition by the portal seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) lodged by the ED in the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ED counsel said new material has been unearthed, revealing the commission of the offence of money laundering.

    He also said the petition was not maintainable as the ECIR is an internal document that cannot be supplied and the petitioners cannot “piggyback” on the interim relief.

    This is a criminal conspiracy for “paid news” where crores of rupees have come in violation of laws, the ED’s counsel submitted.

    “Prima facie, in the opinion of this court, the above contention has merit and requires deliberation. In view thereof, issue notice,” Justice Banerjee said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.

    ALSO READ | NewsClick: ED probes Prakash Karat-billionaire Singham email exchanges, funds transfer to journalists

    Counsel for the petitioners said there was no urgency in the matter.

    In the application for vacation of the interim order, the ED said the Supreme Court has deprecated the practice of “blanket no coercive action” orders and such orders during the course of investigation virtually amount to granting anticipatory bail to the accused.

    “Since ECIR can no longer be provided to the accused and as for grant of anticipatory bail the twin conditions of Section 45 (PMLA) are required to be complied (with), the continuation of interim protection to the accused petitioner virtually amounts to grant of anticipatory bail in a PMLA case without the satisfaction of the twin conditions.

    Therefore, the orders dated 21.06.2021 and 29.07.2021 granting interim protection must be vacated at the earliest in view of the settled position of law,” the ED application said.

    On June 21 last year, the High Court directed the ED not to take any coercive action against NewsClick and Purkayastha in connection with the money laundering case.

    The interim protection was further extended on July 29, 2021.

    The ED initiated its probe on the basis of a Delhi Police FIR and has conducted searches on the premises of NewsClick and several other places in connection with the money received from overseas.

    According to the FIR, the petitioner company, PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, received foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of Rs 9.59 crore from Worldwide Media Holdings LLC USA during 2018-19.

    It alleged that the investment was made by greatly overvaluing the shares of the petitioner company to avoid the 26 per cent FDI cap in a digital news website.

    It was further alleged that over 45 per cent of this investment was diverted or siphoned off for the payment of salary/consultancy, rent and other expenses.

    Therefore, it is alleged that the company has violated FDI and other laws of the country and caused a loss to the government exchequer.

  • ED searches premises of Emparta Infrastructures in Rose Valley money laundering case

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said that it carried out searches at several premises of Emparta Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and its directors in connection with the Rose Valley ponzi scheme money laundering case

    The financial probe agency, in a statement, said that it carried out searches at several premises of the company and its directors in West Bengal’s Siliguri and Sikkim on Thursday. It said that during searches Emparta Infrastructure Pvt Limited has voluntarily tendered a draft amounting Rs 2.60 crore of their pending arrears of lease rent pertaining to a Rose Valley Group hotel.

    It also said that unaccounted cash of Rs 44 lakh was also seized from the premises during search.

    The ED had initiated a money laundering case against Rose Valley Group of companies along with other persons related to company on the basis of various FIRs registered by West Bengal Police and the CBI.

    During the probe, it was found that Rose Valley Group collected funds from the people by floating fake and fictitious schemes and defaulted the re-payments amounting to Rs 6,666 crore which constitutes the proceeds of crime. During the course of investigation, movable and immovable properties to the tune of Rs 1,172 crore have already been attached and seized so far.

    The ED had arrested Gautam Kundu, promoter, owner, chairman of Rose Valley Group of Companies, in March 2015 and he is still in judicial custody. The ED has filed a charge sheet and two supplementary charge sheets in connection with the money laundering probe.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said that it carried out searches at several premises of Emparta Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and its directors in connection with the Rose Valley ponzi scheme money laundering case

    The financial probe agency, in a statement, said that it carried out searches at several premises of the company and its directors in West Bengal’s Siliguri and Sikkim on Thursday. It said that during searches Emparta Infrastructure Pvt Limited has voluntarily tendered a draft amounting Rs 2.60 crore of their pending arrears of lease rent pertaining to a Rose Valley Group hotel.

    It also said that unaccounted cash of Rs 44 lakh was also seized from the premises during search.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ED had initiated a money laundering case against Rose Valley Group of companies along with other persons related to company on the basis of various FIRs registered by West Bengal Police and the CBI.

    During the probe, it was found that Rose Valley Group collected funds from the people by floating fake and fictitious schemes and defaulted the re-payments amounting to Rs 6,666 crore which constitutes the proceeds of crime. During the course of investigation, movable and immovable properties to the tune of Rs 1,172 crore have already been attached and seized so far.

    The ED had arrested Gautam Kundu, promoter, owner, chairman of Rose Valley Group of Companies, in March 2015 and he is still in judicial custody. The ED has filed a charge sheet and two supplementary charge sheets in connection with the money laundering probe.

  • Cattle smuggling case: ED charge sheet reveals ‘involvement of BSF’; Mamata targets Centre

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: In a 204-page supplementary charge sheet submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the cattle smuggling case before a Delhi court on Thursday, the central agency mentioned BSF’s (Border Security Force) direct involvement and nexus with the suspects helping them to provide passage to deliver cattle to Bangladesh.

    It may be recalled that Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal and his daughter Sukanya were arrested in connection with the case.

    The TMC leaders see in the central agency’s findings a political tool to target the BJP-led government at the Centre, since BSF comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    “All Truck drivers transporting the cattle of this syndicate were given a PAD (Token). A PAD/ token was an identification so that there is no hindrance by local administration or police authority in the transportation of cattle.  Each truck driver was given directions towards the border outpost (BOP) at Nimitita, Khandua and Giria situated in Murshidabad district under the 36- Battalion of the BSF. The drivers had to deliver these cattle for further smuggling through local operatives. Mostly the cattle used to be sent through the border between 11 PM and 3 A.M. in connivance with BSF officials,” said an ED official quoting the charge sheet.

    While addressing a rally in Murshidabad district on Friday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Centre on the issue of cattle smuggling. “BSF is directly involved in the cattle smuggling and it is a central agency. The BSF is responsible for guarding the border. How can they not be held accountable if cows are being smuggled from right under their nose? Our party functionaries are being maligned to hide their failure,” she said.

    Last year, the CBI arrested BSF’s commandant of the 36 Battalion Satish Kumar in connection with cattle smuggling and the ED also later took him into custody. Kumar is presently in Tihar jail.

    Mamata, who is also Trinamool Congress’s chairperson, and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, also the national general secretary of the party, have been constantly raising BSF’s involvement.    

    TMC minister Firhad Hakim said the central probe agency finally agreed with what his party has been claiming for long. He also questioned why cattle smuggling cases before 2011, during the Left Front regime in Bengal, are being left out.  

    “We have repeatedly raised our voices and pointed out that it is the central force that guards the border is responsible for cattle smuggling across the border areas,” Hakim added. 

    KOLKATA: In a 204-page supplementary charge sheet submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the cattle smuggling case before a Delhi court on Thursday, the central agency mentioned BSF’s (Border Security Force) direct involvement and nexus with the suspects helping them to provide passage to deliver cattle to Bangladesh.

    It may be recalled that Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal and his daughter Sukanya were arrested in connection with the case.

    The TMC leaders see in the central agency’s findings a political tool to target the BJP-led government at the Centre, since BSF comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “All Truck drivers transporting the cattle of this syndicate were given a PAD (Token). A PAD/ token was an identification so that there is no hindrance by local administration or police authority in the transportation of cattle.  Each truck driver was given directions towards the border outpost (BOP) at Nimitita, Khandua and Giria situated in Murshidabad district under the 36- Battalion of the BSF. The drivers had to deliver these cattle for further smuggling through local operatives. Mostly the cattle used to be sent through the border between 11 PM and 3 A.M. in connivance with BSF officials,” said an ED official quoting the charge sheet.

    While addressing a rally in Murshidabad district on Friday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Centre on the issue of cattle smuggling. “BSF is directly involved in the cattle smuggling and it is a central agency. The BSF is responsible for guarding the border. How can they not be held accountable if cows are being smuggled from right under their nose? Our party functionaries are being maligned to hide their failure,” she said.

    Last year, the CBI arrested BSF’s commandant of the 36 Battalion Satish Kumar in connection with cattle smuggling and the ED also later took him into custody. Kumar is presently in Tihar jail.

    Mamata, who is also Trinamool Congress’s chairperson, and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, also the national general secretary of the party, have been constantly raising BSF’s involvement.    

    TMC minister Firhad Hakim said the central probe agency finally agreed with what his party has been claiming for long. He also questioned why cattle smuggling cases before 2011, during the Left Front regime in Bengal, are being left out.  

    “We have repeatedly raised our voices and pointed out that it is the central force that guards the border is responsible for cattle smuggling across the border areas,” Hakim added. 

  • Jharkhand land scam: ED arrests IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: After 10 hours of questioning, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths arrested IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan on Thursday under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly colluding with land mafias to grab private and government lands in Ranchi. 

    Ranjan was summoned for the second time on Thursday for questioning after he was allowed to go home on April 24 after 10 hours of questioning. Ranjan is the eighth accused in the land scam. The ED had already arrested seven persons, including a circle inspector and land brokers.

    The role of Ranjan in transferring prime lands had come to the fore earlier in a report submitted by the then Divisional Commissioner NM Kulkarni to the state government. The revenue department, however, is said to have turned a blind eye to all these reports.

    Ranjan was Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi from July 15, 2020, to July 11, 2022.

    A 2011 batch IAS officer, Chhavi Ranjan is currently posted at the State Department of Social Welfare.

    On April 13, the Enforcement Directorate sleuths had conducted raids in 21 locations linked to Chhavi Ranjan spread across Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. The ED sleuths allegedly unearthed incriminating documents relating to the land scam by a group having expertise in preparing fake documents, falsifying and forging original documents in Ranchi.

    It was during his period when stone mining lease was granted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren for mining at Angara on the outskirts of Ranchi.

    RANCHI: After 10 hours of questioning, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths arrested IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan on Thursday under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly colluding with land mafias to grab private and government lands in Ranchi. 

    Ranjan was summoned for the second time on Thursday for questioning after he was allowed to go home on April 24 after 10 hours of questioning. Ranjan is the eighth accused in the land scam. The ED had already arrested seven persons, including a circle inspector and land brokers.

    The role of Ranjan in transferring prime lands had come to the fore earlier in a report submitted by the then Divisional Commissioner NM Kulkarni to the state government. The revenue department, however, is said to have turned a blind eye to all these reports.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Ranjan was Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi from July 15, 2020, to July 11, 2022.

    A 2011 batch IAS officer, Chhavi Ranjan is currently posted at the State Department of Social Welfare.

    On April 13, the Enforcement Directorate sleuths had conducted raids in 21 locations linked to Chhavi Ranjan spread across Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. The ED sleuths allegedly unearthed incriminating documents relating to the land scam by a group having expertise in preparing fake documents, falsifying and forging original documents in Ranchi.

    It was during his period when stone mining lease was granted to Chief Minister Hemant Soren for mining at Angara on the outskirts of Ranchi.

  • BRS leader Kavitha leads hunger strike demanding early passage of Women’s Reservation bill 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A day ahead of her appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor scam, BRS leader K Kavitha on Friday commenced a six-hour hunger strike seeking early passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill.

    CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury inaugurated the strike programme at Jantar Mantar here.

    Among the leaders present at the strike were Samajwadi Party leader Seema Shukla, Telangana Education Minister Savita Indra Reddy as well as state Women and Child Welfare Minister Sathyavathi Rathore.

    Sanjay Singh and Chitra Sarwara (AAP), Naresh Gujral (Akali Dal), Anjum Javed Mirza (PDP), Shami Firdous (NC), Sushmita Dev (TMC), KC Tyagi (JDU), Seema Malik (NCP), Narayana K (CPI), Shyam Rajak (RLD), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiva Sena) and ex-Congress leader Kapil Sibal have confirmed their participation.

    ALSO READ | BRS leader Kavitha calls Cong arrogant, Jairam asks her to worry about ED instead

    “Our party will extend support to Kavitha in this protest till the bill is passed. It is important to bring this bill to give equal opportunity to women in politics,” Yechury said in his inaugural address.

    Kavitha said, “If India needs to develop, women should play a key role in politics. For which, it is important to bring this bill which is pending for the last 27 years. This is just the beginning and the protest will continue across the country,” she added.

    The bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women, was initially introduced in Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996 by the United Front government.

    The Vajpayee government pushed for the bill in Lok Sabha but it still wasn’t passed.

    ALSO READ | Kavitha enacting Women’s Bill drama to divert attention: Bandi

    However, the UPA-I government, led by Congress, again introduced it in May 2008 and was passed in the Rajya Sabha but it was referred to a standing committee.

    In 2010, it was passed in the House and transmitted finally to the Lok Sabha. However, the bill lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill has been lying in cold storage.

    Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister M K Chandrasekhar Rao, had on Thursday said the bill has been lying in cold storage since 2010 and the Modi government has a historic opportunity to get it passed in Parliament before 2024.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls that his government would bring this bill and that it was also part of the BJP’s election manifesto.

    None of the BJP leaders raised this issue and the Modi government has failed to get this bill passed in Parliament despite having a majority, she said, and added, “This is a very saddening issue.”

    Kavitha had also said the hunger strike was planned a week before but the ED summoned her to depose before it on March 9, just a day before the planned agitation.

    The agency agreed to her request to appear on March 11 after the agitation.

    The BRS leader has been summoned by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the excise policy.

    NEW DELHI: A day ahead of her appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in the Delhi liquor scam, BRS leader K Kavitha on Friday commenced a six-hour hunger strike seeking early passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill.

    CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury inaugurated the strike programme at Jantar Mantar here.

    Among the leaders present at the strike were Samajwadi Party leader Seema Shukla, Telangana Education Minister Savita Indra Reddy as well as state Women and Child Welfare Minister Sathyavathi Rathore.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Sanjay Singh and Chitra Sarwara (AAP), Naresh Gujral (Akali Dal), Anjum Javed Mirza (PDP), Shami Firdous (NC), Sushmita Dev (TMC), KC Tyagi (JDU), Seema Malik (NCP), Narayana K (CPI), Shyam Rajak (RLD), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiva Sena) and ex-Congress leader Kapil Sibal have confirmed their participation.

    ALSO READ | BRS leader Kavitha calls Cong arrogant, Jairam asks her to worry about ED instead

    “Our party will extend support to Kavitha in this protest till the bill is passed. It is important to bring this bill to give equal opportunity to women in politics,” Yechury said in his inaugural address.

    Kavitha said, “If India needs to develop, women should play a key role in politics. For which, it is important to bring this bill which is pending for the last 27 years. This is just the beginning and the protest will continue across the country,” she added.

    The bill, which seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women, was initially introduced in Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996 by the United Front government.

    The Vajpayee government pushed for the bill in Lok Sabha but it still wasn’t passed.

    ALSO READ | Kavitha enacting Women’s Bill drama to divert attention: Bandi

    However, the UPA-I government, led by Congress, again introduced it in May 2008 and was passed in the Rajya Sabha but it was referred to a standing committee.

    In 2010, it was passed in the House and transmitted finally to the Lok Sabha. However, the bill lapsed with the 15th Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill has been lying in cold storage.

    Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister M K Chandrasekhar Rao, had on Thursday said the bill has been lying in cold storage since 2010 and the Modi government has a historic opportunity to get it passed in Parliament before 2024.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls that his government would bring this bill and that it was also part of the BJP’s election manifesto.

    None of the BJP leaders raised this issue and the Modi government has failed to get this bill passed in Parliament despite having a majority, she said, and added, “This is a very saddening issue.”

    Kavitha had also said the hunger strike was planned a week before but the ED summoned her to depose before it on March 9, just a day before the planned agitation.

    The agency agreed to her request to appear on March 11 after the agitation.

    The BRS leader has been summoned by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the excise policy.

  • ED to question Sisodia in Tihar Jail; one more businessman arrested in Delhi excise case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to question and record the statement of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the excise policy matter, official sources said.

    The federal probe agency also made a fresh arrest in this case as it took into custody Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Monday evening, they said.

    The ED investigators will reach the Tihar Jail around noon to record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22. He is lodged in judicial custody till March 20.

    The ED obtained the court’s permission to question the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who till recently was the deputy CM of Delhi, in the cell number 1 of the jail.

    The agency is expected to question him about the alleged change and destruction of cellphones that were in his possession and the policy decisions and the timeline followed by him as the excise minister of Delhi.

    These charges were made by it in its supplementary complaints filed before the court.

    The ED may invoke section 19 of the PMLA, that allows it to arrest people involved or accused in the case, if the investigation officer has “reasons to believe” that the person is “guilty” of the offence of money laundering.

    The CBI, during its custody of Sisodia, had confronted him with his former secretary C Arvind and then Excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in connection with alleged manipulation of the excise policy.

    Sisodia was not mentioned as accused in the charge sheet of the CBI filed in the case on November 25 last year.

    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 later scrapped and the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe following which the ED booked a case against the same accused under the PMLA.

    The ED has informed the court through its charge sheet that its probe found that at least 36 accused, including Sisodia “destroyed, used or changed” 170 phones to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.

    It had also named Sisodia’s boss and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the second charge sheet filed in the case early this year, claiming that C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was earlier secretary to Sisodia, recorded his statement under the PMLA saying he was given the GoM report on the excise policy in the middle of March, 2021 when he was called by his boss (Sisodia) to the residence of Kejriwal.

    In a linked development, Arun Pillai was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the PMLA on Monday evening following a long session of questioning.

    Pillai is a partner in a company called Robin Distilleries LLP whom the ED had said represented the ‘south group’ alleged liquor cartel linked to Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao’s MLC daughter K Kavitha and others.

    He is also linked to arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru, his wife Geetika Mahandru and their company Indospirit Group.

    He will be produced before a local court where the ED will seek his further custody for interrogation, they said.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to question and record the statement of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday as part of its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the excise policy matter, official sources said.

    The federal probe agency also made a fresh arrest in this case as it took into custody Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai on Monday evening, they said.

    The ED investigators will reach the Tihar Jail around noon to record the statement of Sisodia under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22. He is lodged in judicial custody till March 20.

    The ED obtained the court’s permission to question the 51-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, who till recently was the deputy CM of Delhi, in the cell number 1 of the jail.

    The agency is expected to question him about the alleged change and destruction of cellphones that were in his possession and the policy decisions and the timeline followed by him as the excise minister of Delhi.

    These charges were made by it in its supplementary complaints filed before the court.

    The ED may invoke section 19 of the PMLA, that allows it to arrest people involved or accused in the case, if the investigation officer has “reasons to believe” that the person is “guilty” of the offence of money laundering.

    The CBI, during its custody of Sisodia, had confronted him with his former secretary C Arvind and then Excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna in connection with alleged manipulation of the excise policy.

    Sisodia was not mentioned as accused in the charge sheet of the CBI filed in the case on November 25 last year.

    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 later scrapped and the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe following which the ED booked a case against the same accused under the PMLA.

    The ED has informed the court through its charge sheet that its probe found that at least 36 accused, including Sisodia “destroyed, used or changed” 170 phones to conceal evidence of “kickbacks” worth thousands of crores of rupees in the alleged scam.

    It had also named Sisodia’s boss and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in the second charge sheet filed in the case early this year, claiming that C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was earlier secretary to Sisodia, recorded his statement under the PMLA saying he was given the GoM report on the excise policy in the middle of March, 2021 when he was called by his boss (Sisodia) to the residence of Kejriwal.

    In a linked development, Arun Pillai was taken into custody under the criminal sections of the PMLA on Monday evening following a long session of questioning.

    Pillai is a partner in a company called Robin Distilleries LLP whom the ED had said represented the ‘south group’ alleged liquor cartel linked to Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao’s MLC daughter K Kavitha and others.

    He is also linked to arrested liquor businessman Sameer Mahandru, his wife Geetika Mahandru and their company Indospirit Group.

    He will be produced before a local court where the ED will seek his further custody for interrogation, they said.

  • Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren submits his assets’ details to ED in illegal mining case

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: In a major development in the ongoing stone mining probe in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is learnt to have submitted details of his assets to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Details of the disclosure, however, are yet to be known but it is believed that it is almost same as declared by him in the election affidavit.

    Notably, ED had sought his property details during questioning on November 18 in the stone mining scam. ED had summoned Soren to investigate his involvement in the scam.

    The agency had asked Soren to disclose whatsoever his assets— disclosed in the affidavits, income tax return or otherwise.

    ALSO READ | ED summons Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

    ED has already arrested CM Hemant Soren’s representative Pankaj Mishra on July 19, Bachhu Yadav on August 4, and Prem Prakash on August 25 this year who are currently in judicial custody. In its charge-sheet, ED claimed that Pankaj Mishra “controls” illegal mining business in the Soren’s Assembly constituency through his accomplices.

    The ED is also said to have recovered a passbook of Hemant Soren and some cheques signed by him from Mishra’s residence.

    Till date, ED has identified POC relating to illegal mining to the tune of more than Rs 1000 crore in this case. During investigations conducted by ED in the case, searches were conducted at 47 locations throughout India on several dates resulting into the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 5.34 crore, freezing of bank balances amounting to Rs. 13.32 crore, freezing of an inland vessel MV Infralink – III with registration Number — WB 1809, 5 stone crushers, two Hyva trucks, besides the seizure of several incriminating documents along with two AK-47 Assault Rifles.

    RANCHI: In a major development in the ongoing stone mining probe in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren is learnt to have submitted details of his assets to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Details of the disclosure, however, are yet to be known but it is believed that it is almost same as declared by him in the election affidavit.

    Notably, ED had sought his property details during questioning on November 18 in the stone mining scam. ED had summoned Soren to investigate his involvement in the scam.

    The agency had asked Soren to disclose whatsoever his assets— disclosed in the affidavits, income tax return or otherwise.

    ALSO READ | ED summons Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in money laundering case

    ED has already arrested CM Hemant Soren’s representative Pankaj Mishra on July 19, Bachhu Yadav on August 4, and Prem Prakash on August 25 this year who are currently in judicial custody. In its charge-sheet, ED claimed that Pankaj Mishra “controls” illegal mining business in the Soren’s Assembly constituency through his accomplices.

    The ED is also said to have recovered a passbook of Hemant Soren and some cheques signed by him from Mishra’s residence.

    Till date, ED has identified POC relating to illegal mining to the tune of more than Rs 1000 crore in this case. During investigations conducted by ED in the case, searches were conducted at 47 locations throughout India on several dates resulting into the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 5.34 crore, freezing of bank balances amounting to Rs. 13.32 crore, freezing of an inland vessel MV Infralink – III with registration Number — WB 1809, 5 stone crushers, two Hyva trucks, besides the seizure of several incriminating documents along with two AK-47 Assault Rifles.

  • UP gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari arrested by ED in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a money laundering case after he was produced before a local court in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

    Ansari, a five-time former MLA, was lodged in a jail at Banda in Uttar Pradesh.

    The 59-year-old was questioned by the ED in this case last year.

    He was taken into custody by the ED under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after he was produced before a court in Prayagraj on the basis of a production warrant moved by the agency, according to official sources.

    His MLA son Abbas Ansari was also arrested by the federal probe agency in November after questioning at its sub-zonal office in Prayagraj. This was followed by the arrest of Mukhtar Ansari’s brother-in-law Atif Raza.

    The money laundering case against Mukhtar Ansari stems from multiple FIRs lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police apart from two more FIRs lodged against a company called Vikas Constructions (a partnership firm) that was run by his wife, two brother-in-laws (including Atif Raza) and others.

    Mukhtar Ansari is under the ED scanner in connection with at least 49 criminal cases booked against him including those on charges of land grabbing, murder and extortion. He faces trial in Uttar Pradesh in several cases, including attempt to murder and murder.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in a money laundering case after he was produced before a local court in Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

    Ansari, a five-time former MLA, was lodged in a jail at Banda in Uttar Pradesh.

    The 59-year-old was questioned by the ED in this case last year.

    He was taken into custody by the ED under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after he was produced before a court in Prayagraj on the basis of a production warrant moved by the agency, according to official sources.

    His MLA son Abbas Ansari was also arrested by the federal probe agency in November after questioning at its sub-zonal office in Prayagraj. This was followed by the arrest of Mukhtar Ansari’s brother-in-law Atif Raza.

    The money laundering case against Mukhtar Ansari stems from multiple FIRs lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police apart from two more FIRs lodged against a company called Vikas Constructions (a partnership firm) that was run by his wife, two brother-in-laws (including Atif Raza) and others.

    Mukhtar Ansari is under the ED scanner in connection with at least 49 criminal cases booked against him including those on charges of land grabbing, murder and extortion. He faces trial in Uttar Pradesh in several cases, including attempt to murder and murder.

  • ED seizes over 289 metric tonnes of Indonesian betel nuts in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Over 289 metric tonnes of “unaccounted” betel nuts worth Rs 11.5 crore were seized following raids at multiple premises in Nagpur and Mumbai as part of a money laundering probe against people involved in smuggling of its Indonesian variety, the Enforcement Directorate said here on Saturday.

    The ED case stems from a CBI FIR of March last year where it was alleged that many Nagpur-based traders in connivance with various public servants indulged in “smuggling” of sub-standard betel nuts/areca nuts of Indonesian origin and falsely claiming the same to be originating from member countries of South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) and South Asia Free Trading Agreement (SAFTA).

    This was done, the agency said in a statement, by using “fake” certificates of origin, and by using bogus and under-valued bills/invoices and thus “evading” Customs duty. The Indonesian betel nut is smuggled largely from across the Myanmar border.

    ALSO READ  | ED arrests Chhattisgarh CM aide Soumya Chaurasia in money laundering case

    The probe that found it said, that there is a well-organized syndicate of suppliers of Indonesian betel nut, commission agents, logistics providers, transporters, hawala operators and buyers who were smuggling this chewing item into India via the India-Myanmar border.

    “Fabricated” domestic invoices were made and smuggled betel nuts were brought to Nagpur and Gondia districts of Maharashtra, it said.

    The agency said it seized unaccounted betel nut of 289.57 metric tonnes (MT) valued at roughly Rs 11.5 crore at Nagpur apart from Rs 16.5 lakh cash.

    The godown owner could not supply the KYC of the traders who deposited the betel nut and failed to furnish any supporting documentation like stock register, bills, invoices, quality certificate, transport documents etc.

    NEW DELHI: Over 289 metric tonnes of “unaccounted” betel nuts worth Rs 11.5 crore were seized following raids at multiple premises in Nagpur and Mumbai as part of a money laundering probe against people involved in smuggling of its Indonesian variety, the Enforcement Directorate said here on Saturday.

    The ED case stems from a CBI FIR of March last year where it was alleged that many Nagpur-based traders in connivance with various public servants indulged in “smuggling” of sub-standard betel nuts/areca nuts of Indonesian origin and falsely claiming the same to be originating from member countries of South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) and South Asia Free Trading Agreement (SAFTA).

    This was done, the agency said in a statement, by using “fake” certificates of origin, and by using bogus and under-valued bills/invoices and thus “evading” Customs duty. The Indonesian betel nut is smuggled largely from across the Myanmar border.

    ALSO READ  | ED arrests Chhattisgarh CM aide Soumya Chaurasia in money laundering case

    The probe that found it said, that there is a well-organized syndicate of suppliers of Indonesian betel nut, commission agents, logistics providers, transporters, hawala operators and buyers who were smuggling this chewing item into India via the India-Myanmar border.

    “Fabricated” domestic invoices were made and smuggled betel nuts were brought to Nagpur and Gondia districts of Maharashtra, it said.

    The agency said it seized unaccounted betel nut of 289.57 metric tonnes (MT) valued at roughly Rs 11.5 crore at Nagpur apart from Rs 16.5 lakh cash.

    The godown owner could not supply the KYC of the traders who deposited the betel nut and failed to furnish any supporting documentation like stock register, bills, invoices, quality certificate, transport documents etc.