New Delhi, Apr 24 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently conducted searches against the offices of an app which dealt into cryptocurrencies and seized 91.6 crore lying in various Payment Gateways/accounts.

The seach was carried out on April 21 at three bank/payment gatways premises in respect of the accounts held by the entities controlled by Bhupesh Arora and his associates in connection with an investigation relating to the misuse of App-based token named "HPZ" and other similar applications by several entities.

The ED lodged the case on the basis of an FIR registered by Cyber Crime Police Station, Kohima, Nagaland, under various sections of IPC against HPZ token and others.

"The HPZ Token was an App-Based Token which promised users of large gains against investment by investing in mining machines for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Investigation unearthed larger conspiracy and involvement of various entities in money laundering," said the official.

ED Investigation revealed that Lillian Technocab Pvt. Ltd and Shigoo Technology Private Limited were involved in the operating and collecting money from investors in the name of HPZ token.

Bhupesh Arora and his associates had control over Shigoo Technology Private limited and he was indulged in operating unregistered gaming Apps/website in this company and various other entities and was collecting money fraudulently from the gullible public in the garb of these Apps/website.

"During the searches, the total amount of Rs. 91.6 Crore was found lying-in various Bank accounts/Merchant Accounts maintained with Banks/Payment Gateways of the entities involved in money laundering and the same was freezed. Total freezing in this case is now Rs. 178 Crore," said the official.