New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted search operations at multiple locations in India, including Delhi, in relation to alleged cyber fraud and seized increminating documents, unaccounted money of Rs 47 lakh and crypto currencies worth Rs 1.36 crore, an ED statement said on Wednesday.
The ED officials had raided for three successive days from November 28 at 13 premises, including that of Delhi, Gurugram, Jodhpur, Jhunjhunu, Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The search operations yielded various incriminating documents like cheque books, ATM cards, PAN cards, digital signatures, Trust wallet, secret phrases and unexplained cash of Rs 47 lakh and crypto (USDT) worth Rs 1.36 crore from private wallet and various bank accounts have been frozen.
The ED initiated investigation on the basis of two FIRs (first information reports) registered by CBI, Economic Offences Wing, Delhi, with respect to alleged cyber fraud money to the tune of Rs 640 crore generated through betting, gambling, part-time jobs and phishing scams, etc., being siphoned off by way of layering through more than 5,000 mule Indian bank accounts and subsequently uploaded on “PYYPL”, a UAE-based payment platform. Part of the cyber fraud money was withdrawn in cash at Dubai through Indian Bank ATM cards.
The central agency’s investigation unmasked a nexus of certain chartered accountants (CAs), company secretaries (CS) and crypto traders, who are working in tandem in a systematic format, to launder the proceeds of crime collected.
“During the search between November 28 to 30 last, two chartered accounts namely Ajay and Vipin Yadav and one crypto trader Jitendra Kaswan have been arrested under the provisions of PMLA. The investigation has unearthed a large-scale money laundering racket operated with the assistance of handlers sitting abroad through closely held chat group on instant messaging apps. Instructions regarding opening of mule accounts, cash circulation and purchase of crypto are provided on this group account by the handlers,” the ED claimed.
Over 2,000 documents detailing debit or credit transactions in hundreds of bank accounts and purchase of crypto currency have been recovered and are being analysed.
During the search operations in the premise of the main accused CA Ashok Kumar Sharma, the ED team was attacked and restricted with force from entering the premises.
An FIR has been lodged by Delhi Police on the complaint made by ED. Subsequently, Delhi Police has arrested one of the persons — Radhe Shyam Sharma, brother of Ashok Kumar Sharma, who is absconding.
UNI
