According to sources, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 15 locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Wednesday as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and those linked to him. Multiple federal agencies conducted these raids in collaboration with the state police force, and the locations raided thus far include Ahmad’s residential and other premises, as well as those of his family members and others.
The raids occurred while Ahmad was being transported to Prayagraj from the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his appearance in a local court in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. A team of Uttar Pradesh Police is transporting him.
The gangster is expected to arrive in Prayagraj this evening.
The case in which Ahmad is on trial is linked to the February 24th murder of Pal and his two police security guards outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj area.
Following a complaint filed by Pal’s wife, Uttar Pradesh Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.
In 2021, the ED attached immovable and movable assets, including land and money in several bank accounts totaling Rs 8.14 crore, belonging to mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his wife in connection with the money laundering case.
A land property in the name of Shaista Parveen, Ahmad’s wife, was attached at mauza Katka, Paragana Jhunsi, Tehsil Phulpur. Ahmad paid only Rs 4.5 crore for this, far less than the government’s valuation of Rs 6.86 crore.
Furthermore, the ED had attached a bank account balance of Rs 1.28 crore in 10 bank accounts of Ahmad and one account of Shaista Parveen.
After taking cognizance of several FIRs lodged against Ahmad in various police stations, the ED launched an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), relating to murder, extortion, cheating, forgery, land grabbing, and other crimes of a similar nature.
Following its investigation under the PMLA, the ED stated that Ahmad earned black money in cash through criminal activities and that it was deposited in several bank accounts of the gangster, his kin, and close associates.
The ED has noticed that these funds are being credited in their accounts from various firms and companies of his aides, the ED previously stated, adding that these funds have been further utilized for buying land in the name of his wife at the consideration price far below the government’s value”.
According to the ED, it gathered information from the IT department and other agencies related to the companies run by Ahmad’s aides.
