The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 48.21 lakh belonging to journalist Rajeev Sharma under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a money laundering investigation. The attached asset is the residential property in the name of Rajeev Sharma at Pitampura here.
The ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR and chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police against Sharma under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
“Investigation under PMLA revealed that Rajeev Sharma had supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence officers, in exchange for remuneration thereby compromising the security and national interests of the country,” the ED said in a statement.
During investigation it was revealed that such remuneration to Sharma was being provided by a Mahipalpur (Delhi)-based shell company that was run by Chinese nationals namely Zhang Cheng alias Suraj, Zhang Lixia alias Usha and Qing Shi along with a Nepali national Sher Singh alias Raj Bohara, it said.
“This Chinese company was acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Rajeev Sharma who indulged in criminal activities. The remuneration was being paid in cash through carriers as well as through cash deposits,” it further alleged.
Sharma also received money using the bank account of his friend in order to conceal his involvement in criminal activities.
In addition to obtaining remunerations in cash, he also received remuneration in kind in the form of various paid foreign trips which were arranged by the Chinese Intelligence Agents, it said.
The ED has earlier filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet in police parlance) in the present case before the PMLA Court, Patiala House Courts here on which the Court has taken cognizance of the matter vide order dated September 7, . 2021. Further investigation is under progress, it added.