Did a Rajasthan Computer Institute Commit a Rs 70 Crore Fraud?
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Key Takeaways
Jaipur, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted a chargesheet in a Special Court (PMLA), Jaipur, against a computer institute and its officials who launched a deceptive investment scheme promising "Earn While You Learn", resulting in a fraud and money laundering case amounting to Rs 70 crore.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) from the Jaipur Zonal Office filed the Prosecution Complaint (PC) on December 15 in front of the Special Court (PMLA) against Preeya Home Study Private Limited (PHSPL) and its Directors/Ex-Directors including Mahesh Kumar, Satya Prakash, and Sombir Poonia, as stated in an official announcement.
The individuals involved face charges of money laundering under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The ED's investigation was initiated following 59 FIRs lodged by the Rajasthan and Haryana Police, which claimed that PHSPL and its main officials deceived the general public by running fraudulent online computer education and Multi-Level Marketing schemes.
The federal investigative agency revealed that through misleading advertisements, seminars, and promises like "Earn While You Learn", investors were persuaded to pay membership fees ranging from Rs 5,800 to Rs 11,800 with guarantees of unrealistic returns.
Further inquiries indicated that, despite being established in 2002 as an educational institution, PHSPL was actually a cover for conducting a vast money circulation scheme, with educational content merely acting as a mask for gathering funds through false representations and misleading claims of authenticity, according to the ED.
A thorough financial investigation, which included analyzing bank accounts and statements from the accused and complainants, disclosed that funds were collected from numerous investors across various states during the offense period, with a significant amount of approximately Rs 70 crore being fraudulently retained and laundered.
The ED's investigation confirmed that the Proceeds of Crime (PoC) were utilized to purchase multiple properties under the names of the company and the family members of its principal promoters/directors.
Consequently, the ED provisionally attached several properties worth Rs 3.06 crore through a Provisional Attachment Order, which was later ratified by the Adjudicating Authority, as noted in the ED’s statement.