Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, Jun 21: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has intensified its crackdown on alleged irregularities in road construction projects in Madhya Pradesh by freezing bank deposits worth Rs 2.93 crore and seizing Rs 23.50 lakh in cash during raids conducted in Rewa and Jabalpur districts, officials said on Sunday.
The searches were carried out on June 19 by the ED's Bhopal Zonal Office as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the alleged submission of fake bitumen invoices by government contractors involved in road construction projects.
During the operation, officials recovered several incriminating documents, property records, digital devices and cash amounting to Rs 23.50 lakh. Authorities also froze bank balances and fixed deposits worth Rs 2.93 crore.
The investigation was launched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on multiple FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Madhya Pradesh Police in Rewa and Jabalpur under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to the ED, investigations revealed that several contractors allegedly conspired with officials and public servants associated with the Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority (MPRRDA) project implementation units to fraudulently obtain government payments for asphalt and bitumen work.
Officials said the accused secured payments by submitting forged invoices purportedly issued by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
The agency alleged that fake invoices worth Rs 55.60 crore were used, resulting in substantial losses to the state exchequer.
In a separate development, the ED's Bhopal Zonal Office has filed a supplementary prosecution complaint before the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal against Sunil Kumar Tripathi and others in connection with an alleged adulterated dairy products case.
The accused are alleged to have manufactured dairy products by replacing milk fat with palm oil and other harmful substances.
The Special Court has issued notices directing the accused to appear before it.
The money laundering investigation stems from FIRs registered by Habibganj Police Station and the Economic Offences Wing in Bhopal against directors, officials and associates of Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Private Limited (JGFPL).
Earlier, the ED had provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 23.59 crore in the case under the provisions of the PMLA.
The agency had also arrested Kishan Modi, Managing Director of JGFPL, and the company's former Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Kumar Tripathi. Both are currently lodged in judicial custody.
Officials said investigations in both cases are continuing, with authorities examining the financial trail and identifying additional beneficiaries linked to the alleged offences.