On two different occasions, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached movable assets in the form of balance in bank account of Salai Agri Consortium Private Ltd and immovable property of a woman alleged to be an active cadre of a banned UG group, both under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 case.
The ED provisionally attached movable assets in the form of balance in a bank account to the tune of Rs 2.31 crore of Salai Agri Consortium Private.
The Manipur-based company was booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged anti-national activities. The NIA has alleged that the Manipur-based company is being controlled by entities booked for anti-national activities.
The bank account of Salai Agri Consortium Private Ltd, which is a company of Salai Group, has been attached under the anti-money laundering law, the ED said.
“Bank deposits worth Rs 2.21 crore of Manipur-based Salai Agri Consortium Private Ltd have been attached under anti-money laundering law,” the ED stated.
The NIA initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of FIR in November 21, 2019 against ‘Yambem Biren, Narengbam Samarjit Singh, Tolenjow Singha, Wehengban Khelindra Singh, Brojendro Yulembam’ under various sections of IPC for their prejudicial activities like waging war against the state, sedition, promoting disharmony, enmity or feeling of hatred among different group, etc by declaring the independence of Manipur state from India.
Investigation revealed that Salai Group is controlled by the above-mentioned persons. With the attachment, the total attachment in the case reached Rs 2.42 crore with two provisional attachment orders issued in this regard. Further investigation of the case is going on, the ED stated.
The ED also attached the immovable property of a Manipur woman alleged to be an active cadre of a banned UG group under PMLA case.
The ED said that a Special Court PMLA, Imphal East approved the ED application regarding the confiscation of an immovable property of the woman found to be involved in money laundering worth Rs 11.54 lakh related to K Elizabeth Devi, who was alleged as a cadre of a banned outfit.
“On prayer being made under Section 8(7) of PMLA, 2002, one homestead land measuring 0.16 acre situated at Imphal West along with one under-constructed RCC building inside the said plot of land have been ordered to be confiscated (which were valued at Rs 11,54,835 at the time of attachment in 2009),” the ED stated.
Based on the FIR registered by the Manipur Police invoking provisions of Section 121, 21-A of the IPC, for the offence of extortion from the public, Section 17, 20 and 21 of UAPA, and Section 25 of the Arms Act, the ED initiated money laundering investigation against Devi, K Premjit Singh and K Sanajaoba Devi, who were active members of the banned extremist organisation - People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
The ED revealed that the accused persons were involved in extortion from the public and the business community and collected extortion amounts in the name of taxes for the banned ‘PREPAK organization’ and out of the said “illicit funds”, they also acquired properties in their names.
“Subsequently, during an investigation conducted under PMLA 2002, proceeds of crime were identified and attached. The Special Court (PMLA), Imphal East, Manipur, had also declared the above-accused persons as proclaimed offenders,” the ED added.
During trial proceedings, the Special Court (PMLA), Imphal East, Manipur on August 3, convicted the accused persons as Proclaimed Offenders.
