Mumbai, Jan 22 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at five locations here, including the premises of Viva Group, in connection with its money laundering probe into the PMC Bank scam case, officials said.
An ED official said that the agency carried out searches at five premises belonging to Viva Group and its associates.
He said the premises included the registered office of Viva Group and residential premise of concerned person of Viva Group in Virar area. He said that searches at one associated office premise of Viva Group in Andheri and two residential premises of two financial consultants of Viva Group in Juhu and Chembur were also carried out.
The official said that during the searches, cash to the tune of Rs 73 lakh and incriminating digital and documentary evidences have been recovered.
The official said the investigation also revealed that the Wadhawans of HDIL in connivance with Viva Group had diverted more than Rs 160 crore from HDIL to many companies or entities belonging to Viva Group in the garb of commission. The source of these funds diverted from HDIL to Viva group is apparently the illegal fund diversion from the PMC Bank.
The ED had registered a case of money laundering on the basis of an FIR registered by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoter Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, Waryam Singh, the then Chairman and Managing Director of the bank Joy Thomas and others for causing loss to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank and the corresponding gain to themselves.
Earlier this month, the ED had questioned Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut in connection with the case.
Earlier, several properties of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan Family Trust and others totalling to Rs 293 crore had been attached and jewellery worth Rs 63 crore was seized.
The ED has filed a chargesheet in this case against Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and others for the offence of money laundering.