ED raids 14 premises in NHAI toll fraud probe across Delhi-NCR, UP, Rajasthan
Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate has simultaneously raided 14 premises across six states and the NCR, targeting an alleged scheme that used rogue software to generate fake toll receipts and siphon NHAI revenue off the books — a technically sophisticated fraud at the heart of India's highway infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
The ED Lucknow Zonal Office searched 14 premises on 2 September under PMLA Section 17 in an NHAI toll fraud case.
Searches covered Uttar Pradesh , Rajasthan , Maharashtra , Jammu , Madhya Pradesh , NCR , and Kolkata .
The probe alleges use of unauthorised software to generate fraudulent toll receipts and divert collections outside official accounts.
In a separate action, the ED attached assets worth ₹3.31 crore in the Akshatha Minerals money-laundering case on 1 September .
The ED also searched the residence of K.K.
Chandravanshi , former PA to ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel , in a CGPSC irregularities probe.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, on Wednesday, 2 September launched search operations at 14 premises under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of a probe into alleged fraudulent toll collection at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plazas. The searches span multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, the National Capital Region (NCR), and Kolkata.
Background and Legal Basis
The investigation is rooted in FIR No. 17, dated 22 January 2025, and ECIR No. ECIR/ASZO/04/2025, dated 19 May 2025. According to the ED, the probe has uncovered the alleged deployment of unauthorised software applications to generate fraudulent toll receipts and divert collections outside the official accounting system. Forensic examination and records obtained from the NHAI have reportedly corroborated the use of such software.
What the Searches Targeted
The search operations were aimed at recovering digital and documentary evidence, identifying beneficiaries involved in the alleged scheme, and tracing the proceeds of crime. The agency confirmed that further investigation into the matter is ongoing. This is a significant enforcement action targeting what officials describe as a systematic bypass of NHAI's official revenue accounting.
Parallel ED Actions This Week
In a separate case, the ED's Bengaluru Zonal Office on 1 September issued a Provisional Attachment Order under Section 5(1) of the PMLA, provisionally attaching movable assets worth approximately ₹3.31 crore — comprising 62,914.316 units of the HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund — in a money-laundering case involving Akshatha Minerals Pvt Ltd and others. That investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation's Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBI-ACB), Bengaluru, naming the company, its directors, and others in connection with allegations of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and use of forged documents.
Also on Tuesday, the ED conducted searches at the residence of K.K. Chandravanshi, also known as K.K. Chandrakar, a former personal assistant to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of a money-laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC). According to sources, a team of five to eight ED officials reached Chandravanshi's residence in the Old Bhilai area of Durg district at around 6 am in two vehicles and examined documents at the premises, with security personnel deployed outside.
Significance of the NHAI Toll Fraud Case
The NHAI toll fraud investigation stands out for its alleged use of rogue software to siphon highway revenue — a method that, if proven, would represent a technically sophisticated assault on public infrastructure finances. Notably, the multi-state sweep involving 14 premises simultaneously signals that the ED believes the network of beneficiaries is geographically dispersed. The agency has not yet disclosed the estimated quantum of diverted funds.
Point of View
This points to an insider threat within highway infrastructure, not merely a cash skimming operation. The fact that forensic evidence and NHAI records reportedly corroborate the software's deployment raises the question of how long the scheme operated before detection. The ED's simultaneous action across multiple unrelated cases this week also underscores the agency's increasingly aggressive enforcement posture — but the real accountability test will come at trial, where technical evidence of software manipulation must survive judicial scrutiny.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NHAI toll fraud case the ED is investigating?
The ED is probing alleged fraudulent toll collection at NHAI highway plazas, where unauthorised software applications were reportedly used to generate fake receipts and divert revenue outside official accounts. The investigation is based on FIR No. 17 dated 22 January 2025 and ECIR No. ECIR/ASZO/04/2025 dated 19 May 2025.
How many premises did the ED search and where?
The ED searched 14 premises across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, the NCR, and Kolkata on 2 September 2025. The searches were conducted under Section 17 of the PMLA, 2002, by the Lucknow Zonal Office.
What evidence is the ED looking for in the NHAI toll fraud searches?
The ED is seeking digital and documentary evidence, aiming to identify beneficiaries and trace the proceeds of crime. Forensic examination and NHAI records have reportedly already corroborated the deployment of unauthorised software at toll plazas.
What is the Akshatha Minerals case the ED acted on separately?
The ED's Bengaluru Zonal Office provisionally attached assets worth ₹3.31 crore — 62,914.316 units of the HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund — on 1 September in a money-laundering case involving Akshatha Minerals Pvt Ltd. The case stems from a CBI-ACB FIR alleging cheating, criminal conspiracy, and use of forged documents.
Who is K.K. Chandravanshi and why was his residence searched?
K.K. Chandravanshi, also known as K.K. Chandrakar, is a former personal assistant to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The ED searched his residence in Old Bhilai, Durg district, as part of a money-laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC).
