Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhubaneswar, conducted search operations under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at 12 locations in Bhubaneswar, Barbil, Rourkela and Kolkata at the premises of M/s Deepak Steel & Power Ltd, M/s Snehapusph Marketing (P) Ltd, other associated companies/entities, their directors and chartered accountant to trace and unearth the proceeds of crime relating to illegal iron ore mining scam at Joda in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.
The ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by the Vigilance Department, Odisha Police, and chargesheets filed by the Vigilance Department, Odisha Police, under various sections of IPC, 1860, and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against M/s Deepak Steel and Power Ltd, M/s Snehapusph Marketing Pvt Ltd, Deepak Gupta, Hari Charan Gupta, and others, an ED official release said.
The ED investigation revealed that the proceeds of crime generated from the business of illegal mining were layered through multiple shell companies based in Kolkata and Barbil having dummy directors.
During the search operation, Indian currency of Rs 30 Lakh, 2 Kg gold bullion worth Rs 1.24 crore, one Volvo XC40 car registered in 2020 along with property documents, digital devices, and incriminating documents were seized. A freezing order was also issued to two banks, freezing a balance of Rs 1.23 crore in six bank accounts related to the directors of accused companies.
A PAO attaching movable and immovable properties to the tune of Rs 379 crore was earlier issued in this case. A prosecution complaint was also filed in the PMLA Court and the Special Court (PMLA) has taken cognizance, the release added.
Further investigation is in progress.
