Crackdown on Corruption: ED Seizes Rs. 4.59 Crore in Assets Linked to Karnal Officials.
26 September 2024
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Chandigarh has provisionally attached assets worth ?4.59 Crore belonging to Vikram Kumar, the former District Town Planner of Karnal, and Rajbaksh, the former Tehsildar, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. This action follows an investigation initiated based on a bribery case filed by the State Vigilance Bureau (SVB).
Vikram Kumar and his driver were caught red-handed during a bribery operation, leading to further investigations into their disproportionate assets. The SVB seized approximately Rs. 84.02 Lakh from them, prompting the ED to trace the proceeds of crime. The investigation revealed that they had used illicit funds to acquire immovable properties valued at Rs. 3.75 Crore.
Kumar and Rajbaksh allegedly funneled these proceeds into their own and their relatives' bank accounts to disguise their origins. This case highlights a broader money laundering scheme, indicating that the officials have amassed assets far exceeding their legitimate incomes. Prior to this, the ED had already attached nine immovable properties and cash linked to the case.