New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS):The ED attached 17 immovable properties in Daman and Valsad (Gujarat) worth Rs 6.52 crore in a case related to crimes and malpractices of a businessman linked to scrap trading and transport services, an official said on Thursday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Surat Sub-Zonal Office, took attachment action on Tuesday in the case of Suresh Jagubhai Patel and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on Tuesday, the official said in a statement.
So far, movable/immovable properties to the tune of Rs 13.85 crore have been seized/attached/frozen, said the ED.
The federal probe agency’s investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by Daman Police, Gujarat Police and Mumbai Police against Patel alias Sukha and his accomplices, alleging various offences of corruption, possession of illegal firearms, murder, extortion, forgery, passport forgery and copyright violation.
The investigation conducted by ED officials revealed that Patel established a monopoly over the business of scrap trading and transport services in Daman by eliminating his rival traders and through threats, intimidation, muscle power and the terror created by his criminal record, said the statement.
A chargesheet in this matter was filed before the Special Court (PMLA), Daman, on November 27, 2024 against Suresh Jagubhai Patel, his associate Mahesh Nanda and others.
Earlier in this case, cash and bank balances amounting to Rs 2.90 crore were seized/frozen during the search proceedings.
Twenty-four immovable properties situated in Daman and Mumbai, amounting to Rs 4.42 crore, were provisionally attached and duly confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA, New Delhi.
In a separate case, the ED, Indore, conducted searches on Wednesday at four premises linked to Nimar Agro Park and its connected entities under PMLA, 2002. Searches resulted in the seizure of various incriminating documents, digital devices and freezing of four bank lockers, said a statement.
The search operations were undertaken in connection with an investigation relating to alleged diversion and misutilisation of Rs 13.99 crore loan sanctioned by NABARD to Nimar Agro Park, Sendhwa, District Barwani, Madhya Pradesh.
