ED raids retired IAS officer over money laundering

The Enforcement Directorate carried out raids at three premises of retired Indian Administrative Service officer JS Maini and his son Gurpreetesh Maini in Delhi on Tuesday in connection with money laundering investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PLMA), 2002.

The ED initiated the action under Foreign Exchange Management Act. "During the search, electronic evidence in the form of computer hard discs, laptops, iPads, pendrives, visiting cards and property and investment related documents have been recovered and seized," said a senior ED officer.

The agency started the probe based on FIRs registered by the CBI based on an allegation that Gurptrrtesh received $1 million from Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara International in 2007-08 for securing a joint venture with Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd (KRIBHCO), a multi-state cooperative society.

The CBI, after carrying out an inquiry into the complaint for almost a year, filed an FIR in 2015. The CBI had conducted searches in the Delhi and Chandigarh homes of Maini, but was unable to establish the money trail and so no arrest has been made in the case.

It is alleged in the FIR that Gurpreetesh Maini exercised his father's influence to negotiate the deal.