PANJIM: In a major development amidst the lockdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached flats, villas and huge cash under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case relating to cheating of foreign nationals.
According to a press statement, ED initiated an investigation under the provisions of PMLA based on the FIRs registered by Goa Police on the complaints filed by foreign nationals.
The ED has attached 56 flats and 16 villas at Peace Valley in Deumol, Goa along with balance in bank account totalling to Rs 7.73 crore under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case relating to cheating of foreign nationals by Goa-based accused businessmen Ankit Kumar and Sunil Kumar.
The attached assets are held in the names of M/s Sanatan Financers and Real Estates Pvt Ltd, Goa.
“The accused persons illegally collected funds from these foreign nationals in the guise of selling properties under the project named as Peace Valley, Quepem,” statement issued on Saturday reads.
“During the course of investigation under PMLA, it is revealed that the accused had collected money from foreign nationals through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route in the accounts of their various shell companies including M/s Sanatan Financers and Real Estates Pvt Ltd. These gullible foreign nationals were induced to invest in the companies formed by accused Ankit Kumar and Sunil Kumar, towards the purchase of flats/villas,” the agency said.
“However, the ownership of said flats/villas was never transferred to foreign nationals. The said money represents part of the proceeds of crime derived as a result of criminal activity relatable to the Schedule Offence. The ED has provisionally attached 72 flats and villas situated at 172/1, Peace Valley and bank balances belonging to M/s Sanatan Financers & Real Estates Pvt Ltd found to be involved in money laundering,” it added.
Earlier, searches were also conducted at the premise and Ankit was arrested. He is currently on bail. As per law, foreigners are not allowed to buy properties in India and this violation attracts provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Goa Police’s Economic Offences Cell (EOC) is investigating four FIRs against the accused duo, who are currently being probed by the ED.
“It was a joint investigation of EOC and ED. We identified a huge scam in Quepem in the name of Peace Valley in which EOC carried out investigation initially and transferred the case to ED, when money laundering from Russia was detected,” SP Shobhit Saxena informed Herald.
“EOC had registered four FIRs against the two accused in connection with the case,” he said.
The police department confirmed that the foreign nationals, who are now victims in the case, had made use of the illegal route to purchase properties in India.
