The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday attached assets worth Rs 5.45 crore of Ramanand Divya, former Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Chhattisgarh and his family members under money laundering charges.
The attached assets are in the form of agriculture land and plots in Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba and Janjgir-Champa districts and bank balances to the tune of Rs 55.95 lakhs held by the accused Ramanand Divya and his family members.
The ED had initiated investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of FIR registered by ACB, Chhattisgarh under relevant section of Prevention of Corruption Act which disclosed the disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5.45 crore amassed by Divya and his family members.
“Investigation under PMLA revealed that most of the immovable properties were purchased in the name of Priyadarshini Divya wife of Ramanand Divya, few being in the name of accused Ramanand Divya himself as well. The properties were acquired through various ways of money laundering. In few cases, property was purchased directly in cash or through cash deposits in bank accounts of self as well as other relatives,” the ED said in a statement.
In some cases, routing of funds was done through accounts of relatives and persons with meagre sources of income in the form of gift or unsecured loan. For purchasing some properties, fake sale agreements of other properties showing receipt in cash were also prepared, to project the source of cash as untainted, it said.
Also, there were frequent sale and purchase of properties to project the source of money for purchase as genuine whereas the very source of initial purchase was unexplained and tainted money, it further said.
Investigation further revealed that Rs 2.13 crore was paid in cash for purchase of properties.