The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Surat Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable assets worth Rs 1.84 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with illegal betting activities involving Harish, also known as Kamlesh Jariwala and others. The attached assets are registered in the name of Rajesh Lakhani, the proprietor of M/s Maitri Enterprises and M/s VC Metals Pvt Ltd.
According to reports, the ED launched its investigation following an FIR filed by the DCB, Surat, which accused Harish, also known as Kamlesh Jariwala, of conspiring with Rushikesh Adhikar Shinde and Huzefa Kausar Masakarwala. The accused allegedly obtained identity documents from several individuals, forged rent agreements using these documents and falsified shop owners’ signatures. These forged documents were then misused to obtain licenses for dummy firms and open fraudulent bank accounts across various banks.
ED investigations uncovered that the dummy bank accounts were used to transfer funds generated from illegal betting apps CBTF247.com and T20EXCHANGE.com. In previous actions related to the case, the ED conducted searches and froze Rs. 5.67 crore across 92 bank accounts. A Prosecution Complaint was filed before the PMLA Court in Ahmedabad on October 25, concerning these activities.
During ED investigations, Proceeds of Crime (POC), i.e., the money generated through these betting apps, were traced, and it has been found that these dummy bank accounts in the names of various fictitious entities have been opened for routing and layering of money generated from betting and other criminal activities.
The investigation further revealed that Rajesh Lakhani, the proprietor of M/s Maitri Enterprises and M/s VC Metals Pvt. Ltd had received proceeds of crime (POC) from one of the dummy bank accounts. The investigation is on.
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