Hyderabad, Jan 12 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken into custody an individual impersonating an official, who attempted to disrupt the agency's ongoing investigation into Nowhera Shaik, the Managing Director of Heera Gold, along with others.

On Monday, the ED's Hyderabad Zonal Office reported that Kalyan Banerjee was presented before a Special PMLA Court, which subsequently ordered his judicial custody until January 23.

The ED indicated that after failing to legally safeguard her assets obtained from Proceeds of Crime, Nowhera Shaik enlisted the services of the imposter, Kalyan Banerjee, compensating him with a monthly salary plus commission.

Banerjee began contacting ED officials, falsely claiming connections with high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians. His aim was to manipulate the auction process, but when the officers insisted on adhering to legal protocols, he resorted to threats and attempted to pressure them into halting the auction.

During investigations, it became apparent that he was impersonating a consultant to various departments and falsely representing himself as having close ties to influential figures. He was eventually located through intelligence efforts, leading to a search operation under section 17 of the PMLA at his residence in Secunderabad on January 10.

Banerjee confessed to impersonation to exert pressure on the officials, admitting that he acted under the instruction of Nowhera Shaik and her associates.

The ED is pursuing an investigation into Nowhera Shaik and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, prompted by multiple FIRs filed by police across different states.

Police investigations revealed that Nowhera Shaik and others had amassed over Rs 5,978 crore from unsuspecting investors, promising returns exceeding 36% annually, yet failed to return even the principal amounts.

Further investigations by the ED uncovered that Nowhera Shaik used part of the Proceeds of Crime to purchase various properties, both in her name and through her companies and family members.

As a result of the investigation, properties valued at approximately Rs 428 crore have been attached, and both a Prosecution Complaint and a Supplementary Prosecution Complaint have been submitted to the Special PMLA Court in Hyderabad.

Following an ED petition, the Supreme Court approved the auction of the attached properties to ensure that the proceeds are returned to the victims. Several of these properties have been listed for auction via MSTC. However, Nowhera Shaik has repeatedly attempted to obstruct the auction process in both the Supreme Court and the Telangana High Court.

In an effort to delay the most recent auction held on January 5, 2026, she filed a petition in the Telangana High Court, alleging malfeasance in the auction process. The court dismissed her petition, imposing a significant cost of Rs 5 crore on Nowhera Shaik, which was ordered to be deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.