The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched raids at 13 locations in connection with alleged terror financing and an organized syndicate involved in facilitating illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, people aware of the developments said.
The agency’s blocking of the Money Laundering Act probe in the matter is based on the First Information Report (FIR) issued by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
“The Lucknow ED conducted searches at 13 premises under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in connection with the alleged terror financing and illegal infiltration network,” an officer said.
“The case arose out of an FIR registered by the Anti-Terrorism Department of Uttar Pradesh in connection with an organized syndicate allegedly involved in facilitating illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranging fake Indian identity documents and helping in their rehabilitation in different parts of the country,” the officer added.
Read also: The CEO raids Kalani Impex, a company run by Dharmesh Sanghani, Shekhar Suman’s assistant.
ED officials said the original investigation revealed a deep-rooted financial network involving some charitable trusts and entities that allegedly received large foreign contributions and funneled them through multiple bank accounts, illicit accounts and multi-layered transactions to facilitate illegal activities.
“The original investigation also pointed to the use of cash withdrawals and small value transfers to suspected beneficiaries,” a second officer said.
