Synopsis
A man impersonating an ED officer was arrested in Gurugram after allegedly extorting over ₹80 lakh from a builder and other victims. He utilized multiple SIM cards to conceal his identity and defraud numerous individuals. The ED has initiated an investigation based on complaints lodged against him.Key Takeaways
- Raviraj Kumar arrested for impersonating an ED officer.
- Extorted over ₹80 lakh from victims.
- Utilized multiple SIM cards to hide his identity.
- Investigation initiated based on FIR from Gurugram Police.
- Connections to a larger fraud case in Sikkim.
New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) A man who impersonated an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer and extorted more than ₹80 lakh from a builder and several other victims was apprehended in Gurugram and subsequently remanded to a five-day custody of the ED for interrogation, an official disclosed on Thursday.
Raviraj Kumar was taken into custody by the ED, Gurugram Zonal Office, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, due to his alleged involvement in extorting money through deception, fraud, and posing as a senior officer of the ED.
He reportedly utilized multiple SIM cards to conceal his true identity and defrauded numerous individuals. “An examination of his various bank accounts indicated that he had amassed approximately ₹80 lakh through such illicit activities,” the official noted.
Raviraj Kumar was presented in a Special PMLA Court on Wednesday, where he was ordered to be held in ED custody for five days, according to the official.
The ED launched an investigation based on an FIR filed by the Sector-10 Police Station in Gurugram against Raviraj Kumar and other unidentified individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The inquiry uncovered that Raviraj Kumar had extorted funds from a builder in Gurugram by issuing threats of severe repercussions.
During the investigation, the ED documented testimonies from various individuals and gathered digital and documentary evidence, including bank statements, WhatsApp chats, and audio recordings.
In a separate case in Sikkim, the ED, Gangtok Sub Zonal Office, has provisionally seized movable and immovable assets worth ₹65.46 crore under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, related to the misappropriation and laundering of funds from the State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) by Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, former General Manager (Operations), SBS.
The seized assets comprise four immovable properties, which include residential buildings and land parcels situated in Deorali, Syari, Ranipool, and Penlong, Sikkim. These properties were determined to have been acquired using Proceeds of Crime (POC) derived from the misappropriation of funds from SBS.
In addition to the immovable properties, bank balances and fixed deposits held in the names of Dorjee Tshering Lepcha and his family members, amounting to approximately ₹53.41 crore, have also been frozen.
The ED began its investigation based on an FIR lodged by CID-PS, Gangtok under various sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The inquiry was subsequently transferred to the Sikkim Vigilance Police.
The ED investigation revealed that Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, during his tenure as General Manager (Operations) at the State Bank of Sikkim, orchestrated a significant fraud involving the establishment of a fictitious bank account in the name of AE Roads and Bridges Department, Government of Sikkim.
Funds were illicitly credited to this account through the manipulation of General Ledger (GL) accounts maintained by SBS for transactions involving the Central Bank of India (CBI) and State Bank of India (SBI). These funds were then diverted to personal accounts owned by Dorjee Tshering Lepcha, his wife, and other family members and associates, as stated by the official.
The inquiry also revealed fraudulent manipulation of fixed deposits to increase interest earnings, according to the official.
