ED Seizes Cash and Jewellery Worth Over Rs 1 Crore in Fake Registry and Land Fraud Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized various incriminating documents related to immovable and movable properties, along with cash and jewellery worth over Rs 1 crore during raids carried out at 17 locations in five states in the fake registry and land fraud case.
Details of the Raids
The federal agency conducted these raids on August 30 in Dehradun in Uttarakhand, Saharanpur and Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, Ludhiana in Punjab, Bongaigaon in Assam, and Delhi, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
“Cash worth Rs 24.50 lakh has been seized and Rs 11.50 lakh has been frozen, which was lying in the bank account. Further jewellery containing diamond gold and silver jewellery valuing Rs 58.80 lakh has also been seized from one of the premises. Also, digital devices such as mobiles, pen drives and other documents related to the banks have been found and seized,” said the ED.
Investigation Findings
The agency initiated an investigation based on several FIRs registered by Uttarakhand Police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against Kamal Virmani (Advocate) and others for commissions of offence by fabricating the records of property registration in the Revenue Archives.
ED investigation revealed that the accused, in furtherance of criminal conspiracy, fabricated the records of property registration and replaced the fabricated document with the original ones in the revenue archives with the help of employees and workers working in the collector’s and registrar’s office.
“In most of these cases, the property is first shown to be transferred in the name of relatives of the co-accused who has already passed away and thereafter the accused being the legal heir of the deceased in whose name the property was transferred by way of forged document claim rights over the property,” said the ED.
Doubts Revealed
ED -: ED stands for Enforcement Directorate. It is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering and fraud.
Rs 1 Crore -: Rs 1 Crore is a large amount of money in India. It is equal to 10 million rupees.
Fake Registry -: A fake registry means false or forged documents that show ownership of property. These documents are not real and are used to cheat people.
Land Fraud -: Land fraud is when someone lies or cheats to take control of land or property that does not belong to them.
Raids -: Raids are sudden visits by police or government officials to search a place for illegal activities or items.
Uttarakhand -: Uttarakhand is a state in northern India, known for its mountains and pilgrimage sites.
Uttar Pradesh -: Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its large population and historical sites like the Taj Mahal.
Punjab -: Punjab is a state in northern India, known for its agriculture and vibrant culture.
Assam -: Assam is a state in northeastern India, known for its tea gardens and wildlife.
Delhi -: Delhi is the capital city of India, known for its rich history and as the center of government.
Digital Devices -: Digital devices are electronic gadgets like computers, smartphones, and tablets that can store and process information.