ED attaches ₹22.46 crore assets of ex-IAS couple in Bhopal PMLA case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a provisional attachment order against a cricket academy, hotels, resorts, and underlying land in Bhopal, collectively valued at ₹22.46 crore, in a money laundering case linked to former Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officers Late Arvind Joshi and Tinoo Joshi, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 30 June.
What Was Attached
The ED Bhopal Zonal Office issued the Provisional Attachment Order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting the Faith Cricket Club academy, hotels and resorts, and land situated at Village Semri Bajyafat, Bhopal. The attached assets span both immovable property and the infrastructure built on the land.
Origins of the Investigation
The ED's probe was initiated on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Special Police Establishment, Lokayukta, Bhopal against the couple for allegedly possessing movable and immovable assets worth approximately ₹41.87 crore — disproportionate to their known sources of income. According to the official statement, there were widespread allegations, complaints, and evidence indicating that the couple had misused their official positions and engaged in corrupt practices.
How the Assets Were Concealed
According to the ED, Late Arvind Joshi acquired numerous properties both in his own name and in the names of family members and close associates using proceeds of crime. Investigators established that benami entities, sham agreements, and layered financial transactions were deployed to conceal the beneficial ownership of tainted assets and project them as legitimate. The cricket academy's construction and allied infrastructure were reportedly financed through illicit wealth channelled via his associate Raghvendra Singh Tomar, who managed the affairs of the Faith Cricket Club on Joshi's behalf.
Previous Attachments and Legal Proceedings
This is not the first action in this case. The ED had previously attached properties worth approximately ₹13.60 crore in connection with the same investigation and has already filed Prosecution Complaints before the Special Court (PMLA), Bhopal. The cumulative value of attached assets now stands at over ₹36 crore across both rounds of action.
What Comes Next
The ED stated that further investigation under the PMLA may lead to the identification and attachment of additional proceeds of crime. With the case already before the Special PMLA Court, the prosecution phase is underway even as the agency continues to trace remaining assets allegedly acquired through corrupt means.