ED seizes A&N resorts in Rs 500cr scam linked to former Congress MP

NEW DELHI: The ED has attached several hotels, resorts and land worth over Rs 200 crore in Andaman and Nicobar in a money laundering case, probing allegations of misappropriation of over Rs 500 crore in Andaman & Nicobar State Cooperative Bank.

Former Congress MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma, who was arrested earlier and whose bail plea was rejected by Calcutta HC, is one of the accused in the case along with 38 others, including family members, bank officials and close associates.

“Investigation revealed Sharma, the then vice-chairman of the bank, had, in collusion with his accomplices, floated and operated 23 shell companies and a large number of other entities for the purpose of fraudulently availing loans from the bank,” ED said on Friday. The agency’s attachment order of Feb 10 has listed 51 properties attached in the case under PMLA.

It said fraudulent loans and overdraft of over Rs 300 crore were sanctioned in the names of 21 shell companies, of which loans of 18 shell companies amounting to Rs 271 crore turned non-performing assets.

“In total, over 100 high-value loans were sanctioned to these entities deliberately in gross violation of Nabard guidelines, RBI directions and internal circulars of the cooperative bank,” the agency said.

The 51 properties attached by the agency derived from the alleged proceeds of the crime, are in the names of the accused persons, their family members, close associates and companies/firms controlled by them, ED said.

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