ED Targets Rs. 34.73 Crore in Liquor Scam: Properties Worth Rs. 7.31 Crore Attached.
27 September 2024
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Lucknow has provisionally attached agricultural lands valued at Rs. 7.31 crore in Saharanpur, which were approved for industrial use, as part of an ongoing investigation into a liquor manufacturing unit, M/s Cooperative Company Limited (CCL). This action is under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The investigation was initiated following two FIRs filed by the U.P. Police and the Special Task Force in March 2021, targeting the directors and employees of CCL for the illegal sale of unaccounted liquor. This scheme allegedly resulted in a revenue loss of Rs. 34.73 crore to the government due to the evasion of state excise duty.
Investigations revealed that CCL officials colluded with warehouse owners to create forged Bar Codes and QR codes, enabling the sale of illegally produced liquor without proper documentation. This is the third provisional attachment order issued in this case, bringing the total value of attached properties to Rs. 34.73 crore, equivalent to the proceeds of crime generated from these activities.