Topsgrup probe: ED questions Armaan Jain in money laundering case
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday questioned actor Armaan Jain, cousin of actors Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, for around one-and-a-half hours in connection with Rahul Nanda’s Tops
Grup Security Services Limited (TGSSL) -Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik money laundering case.
Jain reached ED’S office in south Mumbai around 9.50am and left the office at 11.30am.
ED officers said Jain is a close friend of Vihang Sarnaik, son of the Sena MLA, and hence wanted to question the actor about his business dealings, if any, with Vihang.
Jain was summoned for questioning after ED officers came across several communications between the two. Investigators have also searched Jain’s premises in the past. But the agency later discontinued the searches after news of Jain’s uncle Rajeev Kapoor’s demise broke.
The Sena MLA and his son
Vihang were previously questioned by ED in the case.
ED had also arrested Sarnaik’s close associate Amit Chandole and TGSSL managing director M Shashidharan, claiming that Topsgrup had obtained contracts from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) in collusion with Sarnaik through illegal means. These illegal manoeuvres, the agency claimed, aimed to get undue benefit by inflating bills at the cost of MMRDA and illegal cash gratification to Sarnaik for facilitating this scam. Sarnaik used to get 50% of the profit earned of the said contract through Chandole, ED had claimed.
In 2014, a contract was signed by TGSSL with MMRDA under which 350 to 500 guards were to be deployed at MMRDA sites monthly.
However, of this, only 70% of guards were deployed. However, the billing was done for all the guards as per the contract and the wage details were submitted to MMRDA for 100% of the contract value.