Enforcement Directorate raids 18 officials in nine states

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at the premises of 18 bureaucrats across nine states for their alleged violation of the government’s demonetisation scheme and involvement in money laundering and other cases, an official said

The agency took the step under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the officials, including those working in central public sector units and state governments.

It had registered cases under the PMLA against these officials on the basis of FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), state Vigilance Departments and other law enforcement agencies.

“We have conducted raids on the premises of 18 bureaucrats in Delhi, Goa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu,” an Enforcement Directorate official said.

“These bureaucrats are involved in different cases related to money laundering, violation of demonetisation and helping shell companies,” he added.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Directorate conducted raids on the officials of the rank of Director General (Health), Project Engineers and Director of Jal Nigam, who are accused in a Smarak case and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) cases, causing losses of over Rs 2,000 crore to the state government.

It also raided former Noida Chief Engineer Yadav Singh.

“In the Smarak case, only the government servants caused Rs 1,400 crore loss to the Uttar Pradesh government.