Enforcement Directorate Confiscates Two Properties of Madhya Pradesh Forest Ranger
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Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated two valuable properties from Madhya Pradesh Forest Ranger Harishankar Gurjar in a money laundering case. The properties, located in Bhopal, were seized following a trial that revealed substantial discrepancies between the Gurjars' wealth and their legitimate income sources.
Key Takeaways
- Two properties seized by the ED in Bhopal.
- Investigation based on FIR by Lokayukta Police.
- Properties linked to Harishankar Gurjar and Seema.
- Conviction led to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
- ED took physical possession of the properties.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized two properties valued at crores of rupees, belonging to a Forest Ranger in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, due to a money laundering investigation, as confirmed by an official on Friday.
The properties owned by Harishankar Gurjar consist of two standalone houses located in Minal Residency, Bhopal.
The ED's inquiry was fueled by an FIR filed by the Lokayukta Police, Bhopal under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and IPC, 1860, against Harishankar and his spouse Seema, due to allegations of acquiring assets that are disproportionate to their legitimate sources of income.
Throughout the investigation, the ED discovered that the gains from the illicit activities were funneled into various real estate holdings.
These properties were provisionally attached in accordance with the PMLA, 2002, and this attachment was later validated by the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA.
Following a trial under the PMLA, the Special Court in Bhopal convicted Harishankar Gurjar and Seema Gurjar on April 29, 2023, sentencing them to three years of rigorous imprisonment while also mandating the confiscation of the seized properties.
This confiscation order received confirmation from the Madhya Pradesh High Court and subsequently from the Supreme Court on January 15, 2025, which includes the newly seized properties.
As a result, the ED has taken physical possession of these properties, stated the official.
In an unrelated matter, the ED’s Chandigarh division conducted search operations on Thursday under the PMLA, 2002, across multiple locations in Delhi, Rohtak in Haryana, Noida, and Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, as part of an ongoing investigation concerning QFX Trade Ltd and others, who are implicated in a multi-level marketing scam disguised as forex trading.
The Directors involved include Rajender Sood, Vineet Kumar, and Santosh Kumar, alongside one of the key figures, Nawab Ali.
The ED commenced an investigation based on several FIRs filed by the Himachal Pradesh Police against QFX Company, which is accused of defrauding numerous investors via a fraudulent forex trading scheme.
