INDIA
Investigation under PMLA was initiated on the basis of FIR registered by Economic Offences wing of Mumbai Police .
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 72 crores belonging to close relative of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, Pravin Raut, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in a PMC Bank loan cheating case.
Investigation under PMLA was initiated on the basis of FIR registered by Economic Offences wing of Mumbai Police under Sections 409, 420, 465, 466, 471 read with 120 Bof IPC against Housing Development Infrastructures Ltd.(HDIL), Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, Waryam Singh, Joy Thomas (Chairman and Managing Director of PMC bank Ltd.) and others for causing loss to the tune of Rs 4355 crores to PMC Bank and corresponding gain to themselves.
Investigation under PMLA revealed that Rs 95 crore has been siphoned off through HDIL by one of the accused Pravin Raut in active conspiracy and connivance with various persons.
The source of the funds were illegal availed loans/advances etc. by HDIL from PMC Bank. There was no document/agreement etc. in support of these payments made to Pravin Raut. Further, as per the ledger of HDIL, the funds were given to Pravin Raut for acquiring land in the Palghar area.
The investigation also revealed that Pravin Raut paid an amount of Rs 1.6 Crore to his wife Madhuri Pravin Raut from the proceeds of the crime.
Out of the said money, Madhuri Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh (i.e., ₹ 50,00,000/- on 23.12.2010 and ₹ 5,00,000/- on 15.03.2011) as an interest-free loan to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut. The amount was further utilised for the purchase of a flat in Dadar East, Mumbai.
The investigation further revealed that Varsha Sanjay Raut and Madhuri Pravin Raut are partners in Avani Construction. Varsha Sanjay Raut has received Rs 12 lakh from this entity (as overdrawn capital converted to loan) on a contribution of a mere Rs 5625. The loan amount of Rs 12 lakh still remains outstanding.
Earlier, several properties of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan Family trust and others totaling Rs 293 crore have been attached and jewelry worth Rs 63 crores has been seized. A prosecution complaint has been filed in this case against Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and others for the offence of money laundering under PMLA, 2002.