Money laundering case: Enforcement Directorate attaches Rs 53 crore assets of former Maharashtra Deputy Collector

Undertaking one of its biggest action against a tainted bureaucrat, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 53.57 crore of suspended Maharashtra Deputy Collector Nitish Thakur in connection with a money laundering case against him. The agency, official sources said, has issued orders for attachment of 55-acres of land in Maharashtra, fixed deposits and bank balance amounting to a total of Rs 53.57 crore allegedly in the name of Thakur, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case against the senior state administrative service officer dates back to March 2012 when the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Thakur for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. 

Thakur, during his service, has served in various capacities in some districts of the state besides being deputed at the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). When he was arrested, his assets were valued at a total of Rs 120 crore while his actual monthly income was Rs 28,000.

Taking cognisance of the corruption case against him by ACB, the ED subsequently registered a criminal case against the officer to track the "proceeds of crime" of the said act of corruption and subsequent laundering of funds to create illegal assets. An ED officer said the case if one of the biggest case of enforcement action taken against a senior government officer in the country.

The central probe agency recently had issued similar orders against corruption tainted IAS couple from Madhya Pradesh cadre, Arvind and Tinu Joshi, as it attached their assets valued at Rs 10 crore.