Sterling Biotech case: ED raids 7 locations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out raids in the National Capital Region in connection with a Rs 5,383-crore money laundering case against the directors and the associates of Gujarat-based pharma firm Sterling Biotech. The agency carried out raids at seven locations and seized documents and computer hardware from the associates.

Names of top IPS and IRS officers and people close to a Congress leader have cropped up in relation to the scam.

Sources said the agency carried out searches at the residences and the offices of Sanjeev Mahajan, Ghanshyam Pandya, and Lakshmi Chand Sharma. All three are allegedly close to a Congress leader and were allegedly involved in money laundering, the source said. The ED alleged that Sterling Biotech group used 300 benami to divert funds. CBI director Alok Kumar Verma has said that Rakesh Asthana’s name has also cropped up in connection with the case.

BIG FISH

• Names of top IPS and IRS officers and people close to a Congress leader have cropped up in relation to the scam.