Ludhiana: ED attaches assets worth Rs 7.88 cr in Haryana land acquisition scam

LUDHIANA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs 7.88 crore belonging to Baljit Singh, legal heir of Late Karnail Singh, Late Pritam Singh, Late Ishar Singh, Late Sher Singh, Late Gulzar Singh and Late Jasmer Chand under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case of fraudulent disbursement of enhanced compensation against acquisition of land by the land acquisition office (LAO) in Haryana's Panchkula.
The ED had initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by Haryana police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against landowners and officials of land acquisition office.
According to a source privy to the development, ED investigation in this case revealed that the land owners in connivance with officials received wrongful enhanced compensation from LAO by quoting wrong special leave petitions (SLPs) filed before the Supreme Court leading to wrongful loss of Rs 9.71 crore to the state exchequer.
Source also revealed that the ED investigation further established that the ineligible beneficiaries and their legal heirs had invested the proceeds of crime generated from enhanced compensation in fixed deposits, shares, immovable properties and also consumed it for personal expenses.
Accordingly, immovable/movable properties worth Rs 7.88 crore (approximately) have been provisionally attached as per provisions of PMLA.
Earlier, movable and immovable properties worth Rs 1.55 crore approximately were attached and subsequently confirmed by the adjudicating authority in this case.
Total attachment of proceeds of crime in this case stands at Rs 9.43 crore approximately.