Itanagar, November 14 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 1.51 crore belonging to former West Kameng deputy commissioner Padma Jaiswal and others in a money-laundering case, All India Radio reported on Saturday. The attachment was made by the ED's Itanagar sub-zonal office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency's allegations have not been proved.

Source: All India Radio bulletin via Wancho News

The attached assets include a commercial booth in Sector 40-D, Chandigarh, measuring 29.626 square yards and standing in the name of Vishu Bhanu Partap Mahto, the brother of Padma Jaiswal, with an assessed fair market value of Rs 1.42 crore, All India Radio reported. Mutual fund investments of Rs 9 lakh held in Jaiswal's name have also been attached. Himbu Mail, reporting the ED's findings in detail, identified the booth as Booth No. 274 in Sector 40-D.

Source: Himbu Mail

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation's Anti-Corruption Branch in Guwahati, All India Radio reported. According to the ED, as reported by Himbu Mail, Jaiswal, while deputy commissioner of West Kameng district at Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh, allegedly acted in criminal conspiracy with other public servants, including a finance officer and a cashier, to siphon off public funds. These are allegations that remain to be tested in court.

Source: Himbu Mail

The ED has alleged that Rs 19 lakh of the diverted funds was used in connection with the acquisition of the Chandigarh booth, and that the remaining Rs 9 lakh was routed through three demand drafts towards a plot in Sector 86, Mohali, in the name of Pooja Jaiswal, the former DC's daughter; that transaction was later cancelled, and the agency attached equivalent mutual fund investments instead, Himbu Mail reported, citing the ED.

Source: Himbu Mail

A provisional attachment under the PMLA is an interim step that prevents the disposal of the attached assets while the investigation and any subsequent proceedings continue; it is not a finding of guilt. The ED has said further investigation into the financial network is underway, according to the reports.

Source: All India Radio bulletin via Wancho News