Enforcement Directorate Freezes Seven Properties Valued at ₹5.8 Crore in Money Laundering Investigation
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New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally frozen seven immovable properties valued at ₹5.8 crore across Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh in relation to the fraudulent degree scam associated with Manav Bharti University, Solan (HP), according to an official statement released on Friday.
The properties, attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are owned by the accused Ashoni Kanwar. This brings the total value of attachments in this case to ₹200 crore, as per the official announcement.
In the previous year, the ED submitted a Prosecution Complaint to the Special Court in Shimla against Raj Kumar Rana, Manav Bharti University, and others concerning the sale of fraudulent degrees issued in the name of Manav Bharti University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
The complaint was directed against 14 individuals and 2 entities. The Special Court in Shimla acknowledged the complaint on January 4, 2023.
The ED commenced its money laundering investigation based on three FIRs filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, at the Dharampur Police Station, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, concerning the fraudulent degree scam.
In a separate investigation, the ED's Nagpur zonal office executed search operations on January 8 and January 9 under the provisions of PMLA regarding an online safari booking fraud perpetrated by Abhishek Vinodkumar Thakur and Rohit Vinodkumar Thakur, partners of M/s Wild Connectivity Solutions (WCS).
This alleged fraud has resulted in a wrongful loss estimated at ₹12.15 crore to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve forest department.
During these search operations, the ED confiscated gold, diamond, and platinum jewelry/bullion worth ₹1.42 crore, along with various property documents, as stated by officials.
In another case, the ED's Kozhikode zone office provisionally seized assets valued at ₹1.25 crore on Friday, consisting of immovable properties and fixed deposits held in the names of family members connected to A.P. Pramod, a retired Superintending Engineer in the PWD, Kozhikode, under PMLA, 2002.
