The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday said it has conducted searches in the case of Abhay Kant Pathak, erstwhile Indian Forest Service (IFoS) of 1987-batch, Odisha cadre and seized a BMW-620D GT (luxury car worth Rs 74.22 lakh) on money laundering charges.
Pathak was working in the capacity of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Plan, Programme and Afforestation, Odisha Government.
“During investigation being conducted under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it was revealed that Akash Kumar Pathak, had surreptitiously attempted to sell the said BMW car to a resident of Belagavi, Karnataka who was a dealer of old cars, working in Mumbai,” the ED said in a statement.
The ED had initiated investigation under PMLA on the basis of an FIR registered by the Vigilance Cell police station, Cuttack for disproportionate assets (DA) amounting to Rs 9,35,42,594 held by Pathak and his family members, it said.
It was further revealed that seven other FIRs and chargesheets registered by Odisha Police involving Pathak for allegedly duping the gullible people in the name of providing jobs in Tata Motors.
Earlier, the ED had carried out search operation on December 3, 2021 under PMLA at the residence of Pathak situated at Flat No. 101, Viswanath Villa, Vivekananda Marg, Bhubaneswar which resulted into seizure of a Tata Harrier car worth Rs 15 Lakhs along with various incriminating documents/evidence (which was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority).
Subsequently, the ED has also issued a Provisional Attachment Order against Abhay Kant Pathak and others, and attached properties worth Rs 29.83 lakh belonging to them.