Hyderabad, Feb 12 (NationPress) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at Rs 4.79 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering activities linked to the illicit manufacture and sale of Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance.

These attached properties are associated with individuals including Girmagouni Sudheer, Bishweswar Singh, Rajeshwar Sharma Joshi, Bhavanigari Prabhu Vara Goud, Gajjela Sreesailam Goud, among others, and are located in various districts across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as reported by the ED's Hyderabad Zonal office in a statement released on Thursday.

The central agency initiated its PMLA investigation following an FIR lodged by the Gummadidala Police Station in Sangareddy district against several individuals involved in the unlawful manufacture, sale, and purchase of Alprazolam.

Investigations by the ED uncovered that Girmagouni Sudheer has been engaged in the trade of Alprazolam on a commission basis since 2014, aided by his brother Bhavanigari Prabhuvara Goud and brother-in-law Gajjela Sreeshailam Goud. They supplied Alprazolam to toddy vendors, who mixed it into toddy to enhance its potency. Sudheer later expanded this illegal operation with the assistance of Bishweswar Singh.

In 2023, G Sudheer Goud and Bishweswar Singh acquired a factory named Sai Priya Chemicals located in Bacharam Village, Abdullapurmet, Hyderabad, in partnership with Rajeshwar Sharma Joshi, renaming it Stanchem Chemicals. From this facility, they began producing Alprazolam, with profits shared according to their investments in the factory, the ED stated.

Further inquiries revealed that the proceeds from the illegal manufacturing and sale of Alprazolam were received in cash. These proceeds were either used for direct cash purchases of immovable properties or deposited into bank accounts to subsequently acquire such properties. Cash deposits were made in their accounts as well as those of their spouses, and properties were also registered in their names and those of their wives.

Previously, on August 21, 2025, the ED conducted searches across seven locations related to this case, leading to the confiscation of incriminating documents, Indian currency amounting to Rs. 5 lakh, foreign currencies totaling USD 834 and Euro 1910, one piece of 100-gram gold bullion, and 17 silver bars weighing approximately 2996.231 grams. The investigation is ongoing, according to the release.