Security personnel during the Enforcement Directorate’s raid at Vidyut Bhawan as part of a money laundering investigation against Bihar-cadre IAS officer Sanjeev Hans. File
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations at 13 locations in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Jaipur, Nagpur on Tuesday in connection with the money laundering case against Bihar cadre IAS officer Sanjeev Hans and others.
The searches were carried out by the ED’s Patna zonal office at premises of close associates of Mr. Hans and other parties engaged in the real estate and service sector for their involvement in money laundering processes connected with the case.
In an official statement on Wednesday, the Central agency said the investigation revealed that Mr. Hans has generated proceeds of crime by indulging in corrupt practices while holding various prime postings in the Bihar government and also during his Central deputations. Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Gulab Yadav and other associates have assisted Mr. Hans in laundering the ill-gotten money generated from corrupt practices.
On December 2, the ED had sent summons to the wives of both Mr. Hans and Mr. Yadav, Mona Hans and Ambika Gulab Yadav, respectively, for questioning in the money laundering and corruption investigation linked to the tender scam. They were asked to appear before the ED in two to three days to record their statement.
Earlier on October 18, Mr. Hans and Mr. Yadav were arrested by the ED in a money laundering case. Mr. Hans was arrested from Bihar’s capital Patna whereas Mr. Yadav was arrested from Delhi.
During the search, shares worth ₹60 crore were found in newly-opened Demat accounts of the family members of a close associate (currently under judicial custody in this case) of Mr. Hans. From his premises, details of 70 bank accounts were found, which appear to have been used for layering and laundering of proceeds of crime and concealment of unexplained cash.
Mr. Hans invested around ₹18 crore in real estate and evidence regarding concealment of huge cash in such deals have also been gathered.
During the search operation, shares worth ₹60 crore in the Demat accounts and money parked in 70 bank accounts have been frozen by the ED.
Unaccounted foreign currency was recovered and seized from other premises. In addition, various pieces of incriminating evidence (both physical and digital) were also recovered and seized.
The ED said further investigation is under progress.
Published – December 05, 2024 01:30 am IST