The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets in the form of fixed deposit receipts (FDR) worth Rs13.34 crore belonging to Rajya Sabha MP from RJD Amarendra Dhari Singh, under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act in the ongoing investigations against IFFCO MD US Awasthi and others.
The ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR dated May 17 registered by CBI under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act against US Awasthi, MD of IFFCO and others, for criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal misconduct.
“Money laundering investigation conducted by ED has revealed that there had been siphoning of funds amounting to Rs 27.79 crore related to criminal activities. Such proceeds of crime were laundered by way of projecting the same as consultancy income, first in the hands of entities under the control of Dubai-based Chartered Accountant Rajiv Saxena (an accused in Agustawestland case) and subsequently in the hands of entities controlled by India based Chartered Accountant Alok Kumar Agarwal and thereafter in the form of cash to Amarendra Dhari Singh,” the agency said in a statement.
Based on the investigation conducted so far by the ED, proceeds of crime have been quantified to the tune of Rs 27.79 crore, which had been used by Amarendra Dhari Singh on his own, it said.
ED had also filed a Prosecution Complaint (chargesheet) before Special Court on July 30 against six accused including Amarendra Dhari Singh and Alok Kumar Agarwal. In its order on August 7, the court has held that there was sufficient evidence on record to take cognizance of the offence under PMLA. The Court further held that all accused persons knowingly assisted/were knowingly involved in acquisition of proceeds of crime and hence were liable to be summoned for the said offence and proceeded to issue summons to the accused persons.
Earlier, the ED had attached movable assets (FDRs) valued at Rs 14.45 crore on July 30, bringing the total value of provisional attachment in this case to Rs 27.79 crore so far.