THe Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chandigarh has attached a flat worth Rs 86.18 lakh in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged housing allotment scam. This action comes as a part of wider investigation into the activities of Manjit kaur and her family members, who are accused of frauding people by promising the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) flats.
The freezed flat belongs to Vijay Pal Singh and Pardeep Baidwan, and ED took this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2022. The investigation derived from multiple FIR’s filed against Manjit Kaur and her kin by the Chandigarh police for cheating victims seeking CHB flats.
As per the ED’s investigation, Manjit Kaur allegedly tempted unsuspecting victims by misinterpreting herself. She constructed an image of herself being close to the associate of the then Governor and the then Chairman of Chandigarh Housing Board. She reportedly claimed to be on a committee formed by the UT Administrator to re-allot properties under various quotas of Chandigarh.
After a close inspection by the ED, while recording statements from complainants and examining their account statements, it was revealed that the money obtained through the fraudulent scheme was deposited in to the Manjit Kaur’s account and later on was transferred to the accounts of Vijay Pal Singh and Pardeep Baidwan, who owned the attached flat.
“It was revealed that the Proceeds of Crime, thus received in the bank account of Manjit Kaur, is traveling to the bank accounts of Pardeep Baidwan (daughter-in-law of Manjit Kaur) and Vijay Pal Singh (Son of Manjit Kaur),” said the ED
The investigation further disclosed that the proceeds of the crime were not just stashed away. Instead, they were used to repay loans. These included a loan secured by property and others taken for purchasing electronic devices and mobile gadgets. This highlights how ill-gotten gains can be funnelled into seemingly legitimate transactions.
In a separate but related development, the ED also attached movable properties worth Rs 6.50 lakhs belonging to Kulbir Singh Sawhney, proprietor of Arvindra Electrical, under the PMLA. This action is a part of another money laundering case involving Tarlochan Singh and others.
The ED’s attachment of the flat and other assets serves a dual purpose. First, it restricts access to funds potentially derived from illegal activities. This can cripple the ability of the accused to finance their operations of lifestyles. Second, the attached assets can eventually be confiscated by the court if the charges are proven, serving as partial compensation to the victims
These cases serve as a cautionary tale for the public to be wary of individuals making promises of allotment in government housing schemes, Verifying information and dealing only with authorised channels is crucial
The ED’s investigation is likely ongoing. Further actions, such as filing a prosecution complaint against the accused, could follow. The attached properties will remain frozen until the court reaches a verdict in the case.
