What properties did the ED attach in the Rs 110 crore fraud case?
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Lucknow, Feb 19 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally seized a movable asset along with three immovable properties worth Rs 7.30 crore located in Delhi and Lucknow, linked to the Anee Group of Companies. This action is part of an investigation into fraudulent investment schemes totaling Rs 110 crore, according to an official announcement made on Thursday.
The Lucknow Zonal Office of the ED took this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation concerning Anee Bullion Traders and associated entities, as stated by the ED official.
The overall value of assets provisionally attached in this particular case has reached Rs 16.4 crore, as per the ED.
The seized immovable assets consist of land and buildings belonging to one of the Anee Group companies, Anee Bullion Industries, situated in Lucknow, Delhi, and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. The movable property is categorized as a Fixed Deposit, as noted in the ED's statement.
The federal agency initiated its investigation following the lodging of FIRs and complaints by the Uttar Pradesh Police against Ajit Kumar Gupta and several other individuals and entities for allegedly committing fraud and deception amounting to Rs 110 crore against the public.
The FIR indicated that the victims were deceived into investing in a variety of fraudulent schemes with the intent of misleading them regarding their investments.
According to the ED's findings, the funds from investors were manipulated and cycled through various companies within the Anee Group and the Eye Vision Credit Co-operative Society, which was managed by Ajit Kumar Gupta.
These companies and the society were involved in acquiring various properties under the name of one group entity, specifically Anee Bullion Industries, as reported by the ED.
Previously, the ED had provisionally attached movable and immovable assets owned by Ajit Kumar Gupta, his spouse Neeharika Singh, IFS, and the Anee Group of Companies, totaling Rs 9.1 crore in 2023, according to the official statement.