Why Did the ED Arrest Jayathri Infrastructures MD?
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Key Takeaways
Hyderabad, Dec 19 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Kakarla Srinivas, the Managing Director of Jayathri Infrastructures India Pvt Ltd, based in Hyderabad, in connection with a money laundering investigation tied to alleged fraud against home buyers.
The central agency conducted the arrest of the primary suspect in Chennai on Thursday before transporting him back to Hyderabad. He is scheduled to appear before the Special PMLA Court later on Friday.
Srinivas had been on the run after securing bail following a prior arrest by Hyderabad Police.
The investigation by the ED was initiated after multiple FIRs were lodged by the Hyderabad Police, claiming that the company illicitly collected approximately Rs 60 crore from home buyers through misleading pre-launch schemes and failed to deliver the promised flats or issue refunds.
Last month, the agency disclosed that Jayathri Infrastructures had wrongfully diverted Rs 60 crore collected from home buyers to various entities.
On November 20 and 21, the ED executed search operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at eight locations associated with Jayathri Infrastructures, its MD Srinivas, and connected entities.
The searches were carried out at the offices of Janapriya Group, Raja Developers and Builders, R.K. Ramesh, Satya Sai Transport, Sri Gayathri Homes, Siva Sai Constructions, among others.
The ED's investigation revealed that the Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated by Jayathri Infrastructures India Pvt Ltd through the failure to deliver flats were misappropriated and laundered through multiple entities lacking legitimate business relationships.
Searches conducted under Section 17 of the PMLA led to the confiscation of digital devices and incriminating documents, along with the freezing of bank accounts. The evidence seized includes records of undelivered properties, MOUs, project land transactions, and documentation indicating the utilization and current status of the POC, according to the ED.
Preliminary investigations suggested a coordinated effort to misappropriate investor funds and redirect project lands to third parties without allocating units to legitimate buyers.