Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached assets in the form of FDR valued at Rs. 13.34 Crore belonging to Amarendra Dhari Singh, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) under Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 on 31.08.2021 in ongoing investigations against US Awasthi & others.
ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of FIR dated 17.05.2021 registered by CBI under the provisions of IPC, 1860 & PC Act, 1988, against U.S Awasthi, MD 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 Augusta Westland 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. Based on the investigation conducted so far POC has been quantified to the tune of Rs. 27.79 Crore, which had been used by Amarendra Dhari Singh on his own.
ED had also filed a Prosecution Complaint before Hon’ble Special Court on 30.07.2021 against 6 accused including Amarendra Dhari Singh & Alok Kumar Agarwal. Hon’ble Court vide its order dated 07.08.2021 has held that there was sufficient evidence on record to take cognizance of the offence under PMLA, 2002. Hon’ble 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, ED had attached movable assets (FDRs) valued at Rs. 14.45 Crore on 30.07.2021, thus, bringing the total value of provisional attachment in this case to Rs. 27.79 Crore so far.
Further investigation is under progress.
