Bhopal, Jan 13 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate's Indore Sub-Zonal Office has officially submitted a charge sheet to the Indore Special Court regarding the money laundering case involving Kishore Wadhwani, Nitesh Wadhwani, Poonam Wadhwani, and M/s Dabang Duniya Publications Private Limited, as stated in a press release on Tuesday.

This charge sheet was registered on October 30, 2025, in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and the court acknowledged the offence on January 12, 2026.

The investigation originated from an FIR lodged at the Tukoganj Police Station in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

The FIR accused Kishore Wadhwani, Nitesh Wadhwani, and others of conspiring with malicious intent to convert unlawfully acquired funds into legitimate income through a scheme aimed at defrauding the government on a significant scale, the statement noted.

A critical finding is the direct link between M/s Dabang Duniya Publications Private Limited and M/s Elora Tobacco Company Limited, which the Central Goods and Services Tax Department identified as being involved in the illegal distribution and secret trade of cigarettes.

The investigation uncovered that cash generated from the sale of these unlawful cigarettes was funneled into the accounts of Dabang Duniya Publications via inflated sales figures and fictitious advertisements.

Kishore Wadhwani and his associates are alleged to have used inflated newspaper circulation statistics and bogus advertisements to create the illusion of legitimate business operations.

Counterfeit tax invoices were generated, and the disproportionate funds were laundered through a series of layered transactions to hide their criminal origins.

The identified proceeds of crime in this case are over Rs 11.66 crore.

“Throughout the investigation, the ED's Indore Office issued a provisional attachment order for Rs 11.33 crore, targeting assets associated with the accused to halt any further dissipation of the tainted funds,” the statement disclosed.

This case underscores the alleged connection between an illegal tobacco operation and a media publishing firm, where press-related fronts were reportedly utilized to facilitate smuggling and tax evasion.

Vehicles transporting tobacco products were purportedly adorned with press stickers from Dabang Duniya, and drivers were equipped with media identity cards to evade inspections, according to the ongoing investigations.

“Kishore Wadhwani, linked to both the newspaper and tobacco sectors, has previously faced actions under GST laws for tax evasion, forgery, cheating, and conspiracy,” the statement further noted.

The Enforcement Directorate's submission of the charge sheet represents a pivotal move in holding the accused accountable under anti-money laundering regulations, with the intent to dismantle the financial framework established on the proceeds from the alleged fraud and illegal trade.

The central investigative agency is continuing its efforts to trace and attach additional assets arising from these activities as the judicial proceedings progress in the special court, the press statement concluded.