Did J&K ED Attach a Property Worth Rs 1 Crore in a Money Laundering Case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- ED attaches property worth Rs 1 crore.
- Investigation under PMLA focuses on illegal diversion of cough syrup.
- Multiple entities involved in the supply chain.
- Significant financial gains linked to the case.
- Ongoing investigation aims to ensure accountability.
Jammu, Nov 24 (NationPress) The Jammu Sub-Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Jammu and Kashmir announced on Monday that it has provisionally attached immovable assets valued at approximately Rs 1 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to a press release from the ED, "The Jammu Sub-Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached immovable property estimated to be around Rs 1 crore in compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002."
"The attached property includes industrial land located in Panipat, Haryana, owned by M/s Vidit Healthcare Private Ltd., based in Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh. This action follows an investigation initiated by the Jammu NCB against M/s Vidit Healthcare, with key individuals like Neeraj Bhatia and Niket Kansal involved for the illegal diversion of a codeine-based cough syrup (CBCS), 'Cocrex', for misuse as an intoxicant/drug from the manufacturer," the statement elaborated.
"The investigation by the ED uncovered that M/s Vidit Healthcare supplied CBCS to various entities such as M/s S.S. Industries, M/s Kansal Industries, M/s Nouveta Pharma, M/s Kansal Pharmaceuticals, and N.K Pharmaceuticals (controlled by Niket Kansal from Delhi) from 2018 to 2024, amounting to approximately Rs 16.74 crore. A portion of this illegally diverted CBCS was provided to Raees Ahmed Bhat, a resident of Srinagar, from whom large quantities of CBCS were confiscated on January 14, 2024 by NCB.
"Further investigations have indicated that M/s Vidit Healthcare accrued a gross profit of about Rs 2.92 crore as proceeds of crime from the sale of CBCS to the entities managed by Niket Kansal. Earlier in this case, the ED conducted searches at the residences of Neeraj Bhatia and Niket Kansal on February 13, 2025, leading to the recovery of cash totaling Rs 32 lakh and jewelry valued at Rs 1.61 crore. Subsequently, the ED has attached additional immovable property in the form of land in Panipat belonging to M/s Vidit Healthcare, with an estimated value of nearly Rs 1 crore.
"The investigation is ongoing," the statement concluded.