New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said that it has attached the properties of Ajmera Group to the tune of Rs 8.41 crore in a money laundering case related to ponzi scheme.

The assets, attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are in the form of two immovable properties -- an agricultural land and a residential plot and 14 movable properties -- 13 bank accounts and one demat account held in the name of Ajmera Group, its partners and others.

The ED has registered a case on the basis of the FIR registered by Karnataka Police.

Police has also filed a charge sheet against the group, Tabrez Pasha, Abdul Dastagir, Tabrez Ulla Shariff, Syed Mudasir, Syed Muthahir and Fairoz Khan for illegally collecting funds from 1,148 depositors totalling to Rs 34.66 crore and failing to return Rs 29.17 crore.

"During investigation, it was revealed that Ajmera Group illegally collected deposits amounting to Rs 256.06 crore from various persons by luring the gullible investors with a promise of higher rate of interest of up to 20 per cent per month.

"Such higher rate of interest was not possible in any prudent way and the accused Ajmera Group failed to return the amount of Rs 29.17 crore to the depositors and the illegal collected amount were deposited in various bank accounts," it said.

During probe, it was also found that these amount was embezzled and transferred to various unrelated accounts of Ajmera Group or the depositors, and further invested in immovable and movable properties.

"On identification of these, assets totalling to Rs 8.41 crore held in the name of Ajmera Group has been attached," it added.