Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 10: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached seven immovable properties worth Rs 5.8 cr in Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh in connection with the fake degree scam involving Manav Bharti University, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), officials said on Friday. These properties belong to accused Ashoni Kanwar, and the total attachment in the case has now reached Rs 200 cr.

Last year, the ED filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against Raj Kumar Rana, Manav Bharti University, and others. The case pertains to the sale of fake degrees in the university's name. The complaint, filed before the special court in Shimla, includes 14 individuals and two entities. The court had taken cognisance of the case on January 4, 2023.

The ED's money laundering investigation was initiated based on three FIRs lodged under various sections of the IPC at Dharampur police station, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
Other PMLA Cases:

Online safari booking fraud in Nagpur

In another case, the ED's Nagpur zone office conducted search operations on January 8 and 9 related to an online safari booking fraud allegedly committed by Abhishek and Rohit Thakur, partners of M/s Wild Connectivity Solutions (WCS). The scam caused a Rs 12.15 cr loss to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve’s Forest department. During the searches, the ED seized gold, diamond, and platinum jewellery/bullion worth Rs 1.42 cr and various property documents.

Disproportionate assets case in Kozhikode

In a separate case, ED's Kozhikode zone office provisionally attached assets valued at Rs 1.25 cr, including immovable properties and fixed deposits, in a disproportionate assets case against A P Pramod, a retired superintending engineer, PWD, Kozhikode. The attachment was made under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002.

The ED continues its rigorous action against financial crimes across the country, with several high-profile cases under investigation.