News Analysis India

Tag: PMLA

  • Delhi Minister Atishi criticises crime branch’s “interesting” notice, says it is “neither an FIR nor summons”

    Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi expressed skepticism regarding the nature of the notice served by the crime branch in connection with the poaching claim case on Sunday, highlighting that it lacked clarity.Atishi stated, “This morning around six officials from the Crime Branch came to my house, waited for 2-3 hours, and repeatedly went in and out. They had come to give a crime branch notice and wanted to hand it to me directly.””This notice is very interesting. It is neither an FIR nor summons. It does not have sections of IPC, CrPC, PMLA, or the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Atishi added.She mocked that the Delhi Police gave her and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a “letter”.

    “Overall, after almost 48 hours of drama, CM Arvind Kejriwal and I were given letters, and that’s all,” she said.

    The minister further reiterated her ‘MLA poaching’ remark and claimed that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and 11 other MLAs are the ‘same people’ who break away AAP MLAs.”The people who came to take break Eknath Shinde and 11 other MLAs are the same people who came to break away AAP MLAs,” Atishi said.”I want to tell the heads of the Crime Branch that you already know the people who have been trying to break the Opposition governments (in states) for the past 7-8 years. These are the same people contacting AAP MLAs,” Atishi asserted.

    Earlier in the day, a Crime Branch team arrived at the door of AAP leader Atishi to serve a notice in connection with her claim that the BJP was trying to prise away the party’s MLAs through cash inducements and topple the government as part of ‘Operation Lotus 2.0’.

    The Crime Branch served a notice on AAP leader and minister Atishi in the poaching claim case, asking her to respond within three days.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Police Crime Branch served a fresh notice on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to respond to his charges of poaching attempts by the BJP with evidence by Monday.

    “An inquiry is being conducted by the Crime Branch of Delhi police, on a complaint received in respect of the allegations made by you that the BJP has offered Rs 25 crore each to the sitting MLAs of AAP for leaving the party and joining the BJP. These allegations were posted by you on X on January 27, 2024,” a letter undersigned by Pankaj Arora, ACP of Central Range Crime said.

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  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bail denied to NCP leader Nawab Malik

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court refused bail to former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik in an alleged money laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

    Pronouncing the order, the special judge said the two conditions laid down under section 45 of the PMLA were not satisfied. Section 45 says that a court can grant bail in PMLA cases if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not prima facie guilty of the offence, and he or she shall not commit any offense if released.

    The court also relied on the statements of witnesses and said there was continued possession of the tainted property. The court had reserved his order on the bail plea on November 14 after hearing lengthy arguments.

    MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court refused bail to former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik in an alleged money laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

    Pronouncing the order, the special judge said the two conditions laid down under section 45 of the PMLA were not satisfied. Section 45 says that a court can grant bail in PMLA cases if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not prima facie guilty of the offence, and he or she shall not commit any offense if released.

    The court also relied on the statements of witnesses and said there was continued possession of the tainted property. The court had reserved his order on the bail plea on November 14 after hearing lengthy arguments.

  • ED attaches 7 properties of UP gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari in PMLA case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has attached seven immovable assets of Uttar Pradesh gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari as part of a money laundering investigation against him and his family.

    The properties, provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are worth Rs 1.48 crore (registry value) while their circle rate at the time of registration was Rs 3.42 crore, the federal agency said in a statement.

    Ansari, a five-time former MLA, is currently lodged in a prison in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. The 59-year-old was questioned by the ED in this case last year.

    The agency had in August also raided the official residence of his elder brother and BSP MP Afzal Ansari in Delhi and some locations in Ghazipur, Mohammadabad (in Ghazipur district), Mau and state capital Lucknow.

    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 brothers-in-law and other people.

    The ED has alleged that the company was used for constructing godowns on public and government land after “encroaching” on them.

    “The godowns were constructed in Mau and Ghazipur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Vikas Construction was being run by Afshan Ansari (wife of Mukhtar Ansari) and her two brothers Atif Raza and Anwar Shahzad, a person identified as Ravindra Narayan Singh, and Zakir Hussain,” the ED said.

    “Uttar Pradesh Police has filed a charge sheet in one of the FIRs registered at Mau in which all the partners of the firm (Vikas Construction) have been named as accused,” it said.

    The probe found, as per the agency, that rent of Rs 15 crore was collected by Vikas Construction from the Food Corporation of India by renting out godowns “illegally” constructed by encroaching public/government land at Mau and Ghazipur districts.

    “This rent was further used to purchase immovable properties in the name of Vikas Construction and Afshan Ansari. Further investigation to trace the remaining process of crime is under progress,” the ED said.

    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 trials in Uttar Pradesh in several cases, including attempt to murder and murder.

    The Ghazipur district administration had seized two plots of land, measuring 1.901 hectares and valued at over Rs 6 crore, that were purchased using alleged illegal earnings of Mukhtar Ansari, according to the police.

    In July, the Uttar Pradesh Police attached Afzal Ansari’s assets worth Rs 14.90 crore under the Gangster Act.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has attached seven immovable assets of Uttar Pradesh gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari as part of a money laundering investigation against him and his family.

    The properties, provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are worth Rs 1.48 crore (registry value) while their circle rate at the time of registration was Rs 3.42 crore, the federal agency said in a statement.

    Ansari, a five-time former MLA, is currently lodged in a prison in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. The 59-year-old was questioned by the ED in this case last year.

    The agency had in August also raided the official residence of his elder brother and BSP MP Afzal Ansari in Delhi and some locations in Ghazipur, Mohammadabad (in Ghazipur district), Mau and state capital Lucknow.

    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 brothers-in-law and other people.

    The ED has alleged that the company was used for constructing godowns on public and government land after “encroaching” on them.

    “The godowns were constructed in Mau and Ghazipur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Vikas Construction was being run by Afshan Ansari (wife of Mukhtar Ansari) and her two brothers Atif Raza and Anwar Shahzad, a person identified as Ravindra Narayan Singh, and Zakir Hussain,” the ED said.

    “Uttar Pradesh Police has filed a charge sheet in one of the FIRs registered at Mau in which all the partners of the firm (Vikas Construction) have been named as accused,” it said.

    The probe found, as per the agency, that rent of Rs 15 crore was collected by Vikas Construction from the Food Corporation of India by renting out godowns “illegally” constructed by encroaching public/government land at Mau and Ghazipur districts.

    “This rent was further used to purchase immovable properties in the name of Vikas Construction and Afshan Ansari. Further investigation to trace the remaining process of crime is under progress,” the ED said.

    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 trials in Uttar Pradesh in several cases, including attempt to murder and murder.

    The Ghazipur district administration had seized two plots of land, measuring 1.901 hectares and valued at over Rs 6 crore, that were purchased using alleged illegal earnings of Mukhtar Ansari, according to the police.

    In July, the Uttar Pradesh Police attached Afzal Ansari’s assets worth Rs 14.90 crore under the Gangster Act.

  • Court extends judicial custody of NCP leader Nawab Malik in ED case 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A special court here on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik till November 2 in an alleged money laundering case.

    Malik, a former Maharashtra minister, was arrested on February 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate in a probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

    The ED has also filed an application before the special PMLA court seeking that a medical board should ascertain Malik’s health status.

    The court said it would hear the plea on November 2.

    In May, the court had allowed Malik to be admitted to a private hospital for medical treatment while denying him bail on health grounds.

    MUMBAI: A special court here on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik till November 2 in an alleged money laundering case.

    Malik, a former Maharashtra minister, was arrested on February 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate in a probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

    The ED has also filed an application before the special PMLA court seeking that a medical board should ascertain Malik’s health status.

    The court said it would hear the plea on November 2.

    In May, the court had allowed Malik to be admitted to a private hospital for medical treatment while denying him bail on health grounds.

  • Sanjay Raut arrest: Shiv Sena firmly behind us; will protest against arrest, says MP’s brother

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena workers will stage protests against the arrest of the party MP Sanjay Raut by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), his MLA brother Sunil Raut said on Monday.

    He said Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena stands firmly behind the Raut family.

    “The Shiv Sena and Uddhav ji stand solidly behind us. Our legal fight (over Sanjay Raut’s arrest) has begun,” the Shiv Sena MLA from Vikhroli told PTI.

    The ED arrested Sanjay Raut late in Sunday night in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ after conducting a search at his residence, during which Rs 11.5 lakh in cash was seized.

    Raut, 60, was arrested after over six hours of questioning at the ED’s zonal office in south Mumbai’s Ballard Estate shortly after Sunday midnight.

    He was taken into custody at 12:05 am on Monday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was not cooperating in the probe, the officials claimed.

    The Rajya Sabha MP of the Sena, led by former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, will be produced before a special PMLA court in Mumbai later in the day, where the Enforcement Directorate will seek his custody.

    An agency team had on Sunday reached his residence in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, where they conducted a search, questioned Raut, and by evening, summoned him for questioning at the agency’s local office.

    The team also seized Rs 11.5 lakh in cash during the search, the officials said.

    Before entering the ED office, Raut told reporters that the federal agency’s action was aimed at trying to weaken the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra and that a “false” case was prepared against him.

    The ED probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra ‘chawl’ and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates.

    In April, the ED provisionally attached assets worth over Rs 11.15 crore belonging to his wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of this investigation.

    The attached properties are in the form of land held by Pravin M Raut, Sanjay Raut’s aide and a former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, at Palghar, Saphale (town in Palghar) and Padgha (in Thane district).

    These assets also include a flat in Mumbai’s suburb Dadar held by Varsha Raut and eight plots at Kihim beach in Alibaug jointly held by Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar, wife of Sujit Patkar, a “close associate” of Sanjay Raut, the ED had said.

    The agency is understood to have questioned the Sena leader about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut and Patkar and also about the property deals involving his wife.

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena workers will stage protests against the arrest of the party MP Sanjay Raut by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), his MLA brother Sunil Raut said on Monday.

    He said Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena stands firmly behind the Raut family.

    “The Shiv Sena and Uddhav ji stand solidly behind us. Our legal fight (over Sanjay Raut’s arrest) has begun,” the Shiv Sena MLA from Vikhroli told PTI.

    The ED arrested Sanjay Raut late in Sunday night in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ after conducting a search at his residence, during which Rs 11.5 lakh in cash was seized.

    Raut, 60, was arrested after over six hours of questioning at the ED’s zonal office in south Mumbai’s Ballard Estate shortly after Sunday midnight.

    He was taken into custody at 12:05 am on Monday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was not cooperating in the probe, the officials claimed.

    The Rajya Sabha MP of the Sena, led by former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, will be produced before a special PMLA court in Mumbai later in the day, where the Enforcement Directorate will seek his custody.

    An agency team had on Sunday reached his residence in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, where they conducted a search, questioned Raut, and by evening, summoned him for questioning at the agency’s local office.

    The team also seized Rs 11.5 lakh in cash during the search, the officials said.

    Before entering the ED office, Raut told reporters that the federal agency’s action was aimed at trying to weaken the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra and that a “false” case was prepared against him.

    The ED probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra ‘chawl’ and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates.

    In April, the ED provisionally attached assets worth over Rs 11.15 crore belonging to his wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of this investigation.

    The attached properties are in the form of land held by Pravin M Raut, Sanjay Raut’s aide and a former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, at Palghar, Saphale (town in Palghar) and Padgha (in Thane district).

    These assets also include a flat in Mumbai’s suburb Dadar held by Varsha Raut and eight plots at Kihim beach in Alibaug jointly held by Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar, wife of Sujit Patkar, a “close associate” of Sanjay Raut, the ED had said.

    The agency is understood to have questioned the Sena leader about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut and Patkar and also about the property deals involving his wife.

  • ED files charge sheet before court against Satyendar Jain

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday filed a charge sheet before a court here against Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain and others in an alleged money laundering case. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel posted the matter for July 29 for cognisance.

    According to court sources, the final report has named Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, Vaibhav Jain, Ankush Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, and Sunil Jain, besides four private firms, as accused.

    Satyendar Jain is currently in judicial custody. During the hearing, the court also examined the interim bail plea of Satyender Jain on medical grounds. He was taken into custody under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The ED initiated a money laundering investigation based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 24, 2017, under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Satyendar Jain and others.

    The CBI alleged that Satyendar Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income.

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday filed a charge sheet before a court here against Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain and others in an alleged money laundering case. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel posted the matter for July 29 for cognisance.

    According to court sources, the final report has named Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, Vaibhav Jain, Ankush Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, and Sunil Jain, besides four private firms, as accused.

    Satyendar Jain is currently in judicial custody. During the hearing, the court also examined the interim bail plea of Satyender Jain on medical grounds. He was taken into custody under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

    The ED initiated a money laundering investigation based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 24, 2017, under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Satyendar Jain and others.

    The CBI alleged that Satyendar Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income.

  • PMLA, FEMA stings sharper under NDA

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday patted itself on the back for conducting more raids and searches on alleged violators of the 2002 Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the 1999 Foreign Exchange Management Act (c) than was done by the Congress-led UPA dispensation. 

    “During the first nine years of the administration of PMLA (FY2004-05 to FY2013-14), a small number of searches (112) was carried out”, resulting in “attachment of proceeds of crime of Rs 5,346.16 crore and filing of 104 prosecution complaints”. During the same period, trial courts neither convicted any person accused of money laundering nor confiscated any property under PMLA, the Finance Ministry said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

    In contrast, between FY2014-15 and FY2021-22, “in order to dispose of pending investigations in old cases and to complete investigation in new cases in time (a) time-bound manner under PMLA, 3,010 searches were conducted during the last eight years”. 

    This, according to the Finance Ministry, “resulted in attachment of proceeds of crime worth Rs 99,356 crore, filing of 888 cases and conviction of 23 persons/entities”, besides “confiscation of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 869.31 crore”.

    Giving its rationale behind the spike in the number of searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the government said this showed its “commitment to preventing money laundering and improved systems for gathering financial intelligence through use of technology, better inter-agency cooperation and exchange of information both domestically and internationally”. 

    Between FY2004-05 and FY2013-14, 571 searches were conducted and 8,586 cases were taken up for investigation under FEMA, resulting in the issuance of show cause notices in 2,780 cases and adjudication of 1,312 show cause notices, which led to the imposition of a penalty of Rs 1,754.33 crore. At the same time, assets to the tune of about `14 crore were seized under FEMA, the government said.

    Citing figures, the Finance Ministry claimed that between FY2014-15 and FY2021-22, the ED, using FEMA as a weapon, conducted 996 searches and took up 22,330 cases for a probe. This resulted in the issuance of show cause notices in 5,329 cases and adjudication of 5,160 show cause notices, “imposing a penalty of Rs 6,376.51 crore”.

    Also, assets to the tune of Rs 7,066 crore were seized under FEMA. The Ministry said till March this year, 992 complaints were filed in trial courts under PMLA convicting 23 accused while only one accused was discharged.

    1,811 NGOs lost FCRA licencesThe government has cancelled the FCRA licences of 1,811 NGOs for violation of provisions of the law in the last three years (2019-2021), according to the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Replying to a question in Parliament on Tuesday, he said that FCRA licence renewal applications of 783 NGOs were rejected by the government. The state-wise list given by the government shows that Tamil Nadu tops the list with 218 cancellations, followed by Maharashtra with 206. While 193 organisations in West Bengal lost their licence, Andhra Pradesh has 168 cancellations.

    2K Bangladeshis intercepted in 5 yrsEven as the Centre and the Assam government continue to be seized of the issue of illegal immigration along India’s eastern borders, 2,399 Bangladeshi nationals were “intercepted and found using fraudulently obtained Indian documents” in the last five years between 2017 and 2022, Minister of State for Home  Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha. The MHA said that state governments “have also been advised to share the particulars of those illegal migrants who have wrongfully obtained Aadhaar cards with UIDAI for appropriate legal action”. 

    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday patted itself on the back for conducting more raids and searches on alleged violators of the 2002 Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the 1999 Foreign Exchange Management Act (c) than was done by the Congress-led UPA dispensation. 

    “During the first nine years of the administration of PMLA (FY2004-05 to FY2013-14), a small number of searches (112) was carried out”, resulting in “attachment of proceeds of crime of Rs 5,346.16 crore and filing of 104 prosecution complaints”. During the same period, trial courts neither convicted any person accused of money laundering nor confiscated any property under PMLA, the Finance Ministry said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

    In contrast, between FY2014-15 and FY2021-22, “in order to dispose of pending investigations in old cases and to complete investigation in new cases in time (a) time-bound manner under PMLA, 3,010 searches were conducted during the last eight years”. 

    This, according to the Finance Ministry, “resulted in attachment of proceeds of crime worth Rs 99,356 crore, filing of 888 cases and conviction of 23 persons/entities”, besides “confiscation of proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 869.31 crore”.

    Giving its rationale behind the spike in the number of searches by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the government said this showed its “commitment to preventing money laundering and improved systems for gathering financial intelligence through use of technology, better inter-agency cooperation and exchange of information both domestically and internationally”. 

    Between FY2004-05 and FY2013-14, 571 searches were conducted and 8,586 cases were taken up for investigation under FEMA, resulting in the issuance of show cause notices in 2,780 cases and adjudication of 1,312 show cause notices, which led to the imposition of a penalty of Rs 1,754.33 crore. At the same time, assets to the tune of about `14 crore were seized under FEMA, the government said.

    Citing figures, the Finance Ministry claimed that between FY2014-15 and FY2021-22, the ED, using FEMA as a weapon, conducted 996 searches and took up 22,330 cases for a probe. This resulted in the issuance of show cause notices in 5,329 cases and adjudication of 5,160 show cause notices, “imposing a penalty of Rs 6,376.51 crore”.

    Also, assets to the tune of Rs 7,066 crore were seized under FEMA. The Ministry said till March this year, 992 complaints were filed in trial courts under PMLA convicting 23 accused while only one accused was discharged.

    1,811 NGOs lost FCRA licences
    The government has cancelled the FCRA licences of 1,811 NGOs for violation of provisions of the law in the last three years (2019-2021), according to the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Replying to a question in Parliament on Tuesday, he said that FCRA licence renewal applications of 783 NGOs were rejected by the government. The state-wise list given by the government shows that Tamil Nadu tops the list with 218 cancellations, followed by Maharashtra with 206. While 193 organisations in West Bengal lost their licence, Andhra Pradesh has 168 cancellations.

    2K Bangladeshis intercepted in 5 yrs
    Even as the Centre and the Assam government continue to be seized of the issue of illegal immigration along India’s eastern borders, 2,399 Bangladeshi nationals were “intercepted and found using fraudulently obtained Indian documents” in the last five years between 2017 and 2022, Minister of State for Home  Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha. The MHA said that state governments “have also been advised to share the particulars of those illegal migrants who have wrongfully obtained Aadhaar cards with UIDAI for appropriate legal action”. 

  • Shiv Sena workers protest in Kolhapur over ED raids against Maharashtra minister Anil Parab

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Workers of the Shiv Sena in Kolhapur staged a protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s raids at premises of Maharashtra minister Anil Parab on Thursday, police said. The protest was organised around 11:30 am by former Sena MLA and executive president of the state planning commission Rajendra Kshirsagar, an official said.

    Sena workers gathered near the statue of Tara Rani in the city and raised slogans against the ED’s action on party leader Parab, and put up a banner criticising the probe agency, he said.

    The ED on Thursday raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering probe against Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district and other charges, it was stated.

    The probe agency has filed a fresh case against the minister and others under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). At least seven premises, including Parab’s official residence in Mumbai, linked premises in Dapoli and Pune are being searched by the agency.