ED secures ₹60 lakh confiscation order in Zatak Softech drug trafficking case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has secured a confiscation order against M/s Zatak Softech Pvt. Ltd. and associated entities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in a case linked to illegal psychotropic substance trafficking. The order, passed by the Special Court, PMLA, Gurugram, Haryana, marks a significant step in the agency's ongoing crackdown on drug-linked financial crimes in New Delhi and surrounding regions.
Background of the Investigation
The ED launched its probe on the basis of a scheduled offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, involving the illegal trafficking of psychotropic substances. Investigators identified the principal accused — Amit Kumar and Archana Sharma — as having generated substantial proceeds of crime through prolonged drug trafficking operations.
According to the ED, these illicit funds were systematically layered, concealed, and projected as legitimate assets through the acquisition of movable and immovable properties — registered in the names of the accused as well as associated entities and individuals.
Role of M/s Farma Glow and M/s Zatak Softech
Investigations further revealed that M/s Farma Glow, a partnership concern linked to the accused, was used to hold and manage a portion of the crime proceeds. This included funds maintained in bank accounts that were provisionally attached by the ED.
The total provisional attachment in the case covers several movable and immovable properties valued at ₹6.57 crore. Of these, two bank accounts held in the name of M/s Farma Glow, valued at approximately ₹60 lakh, have now been formally ordered for confiscation to the Government of India under Section 8(7) of the PMLA, 2002.
Accused Declared Proclaimed Offenders
Amit Kumar and Archana Sharma, the partners of M/s Farma Glow, are currently absconding. The court declared them proclaimed offenders vide order dated 19 May 2025. Their fugitive status adds a further dimension to what investigators describe as a structured money laundering operation.
What Happens Next
According to the ED, proceedings to secure convictions of the remaining accused individuals and to pursue further confiscations are reportedly underway. This case underscores the agency's strategy of targeting financial infrastructure — bank accounts, shell entities, and property holdings — used to legitimise drug trafficking proceeds. With the accused still at large, enforcement agencies are expected to intensify their efforts to trace and apprehend them.