ED attaches Jet Airways’ properties & assets worth ₹538 crore

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday attached assets & properties of Jet Airways and Naresh Goyal family worth Rs 538.05 crore in alleged money laundering case, linked to Jet Airways.

The seized properties include more than a dozen residential flats, bungalows commercial properties – based in London, Dubai & India.

Reports suggest that the agency has seized 17 residential and commercial properties belonging to several companies and individuals, including Naresh Goyal, his wife Anita Goyal and son Nivaan Goyal.

“The attached properties include 17 residential flats/bungalows and commercial premises in the name of various companies and persons viz. M/s Jetair Private Limited, M/s Jet Enterprises Private Limited, founder Chairman of M/s Jet Airways (India) Limited (JIL) Naresh Goyal, his wife Mrs Anita Goyal and son Nivaan Goyal situated in London, Dubai and various States of India,” ED said in a press release today.

Jet Airways landed in soup as money laundering probe was initiated against the company on basis of Canara Bank complaint against the company. The public sector bank had leveled serious charges against the company and accused the JIL and its promoters and directors of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and criminal misconduct.

According to ED officials, the airline allegedly siphoned off banks loans that it got from consortium of banks led by SBI & PNB.

“Naresh Goyal implemented a massive financial fraud in which the funds of JIL were systematically diverted in the garb of irrational and inflated General Sales Agent (GSA) commissions, large unexplained payouts to various professionals and consultants, by granting of loans to JetLite Limited (100% subsidiary to acquire Air Sahara), and subsequently writing off the loans by making provisions in the balance sheets,” ED said in its statement.

Notably, Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal was arrested by ED on September 31. A chargesheet was filed against the 74-year-old businessman on Tuesday. Mr Goyal is currently lodged in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.

Canara Bank claimed that it had sanctioned loans to Jet Airways (India) Ltd (JIL) upto ₹848.86 crore, of which ₹538.62 crore remain outstanding.

A chargesheet was filed against the 74-year-old businessman before special PMLA court, in connection with the alleged fraud of ₹538 crore at Canara Bank.

ED has charged Mr Goyal with creating numerous trusts abroad on foreign land and then buying immovable properties from these funds. The agency said that it has ample evidence of funds being used for personal expenses & investments.