New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed chargesheet against liquor mafia Sanjay Pratap Singh and others before a special court (PMLA) in Patna in connection with a money laundering case related to the Bhojpur hooch tragedy. It has also sought punishment to the accused and confiscation of his assets amounting to 1.32 crores.
At least 21 persons were found dead in Bhojpur district of Bihar after consuming spurious liquor.
“The attached properties liable for confiscation include 15 landed plots along with construction on two plots held in the name of accused Sanjay Pratap Singh, his associates and balances in bank accounts held in the name of Sanjay Pratap Singh and his unregistered firm, Maa Construction”, ED said in a press statement.
ED had taken over the investigation under the PMLA on basis of FIR filed by Patna police.
Bihar Police investigation had revealed that deceased persons had consumed country liquor which was doubted to be spurious and manufactured/sold by Sanjay Pratap Singh and his associates.
Investigation under PMLA revealed that Sanjay Pratap Singh has invested the Proceeds of Crime generated through illegal trade of country liquor for acquiring immovable properties in his name and in the name of his wife, Kiran Devi, who has no independent source of income.
In the year 2011, with intention to legalize his tainted income from country liquor, Sanjay Pratap Singh formed an unregistered firm namely Bhojpur Wine Traders to launder Proceeds of Crime. Investigation also revealed that the accused used the Proceeds of Crime into the construction business namely Maa Construction where ill-gotten money was used for acquisition of immovable property.
