The Enforcement Directorate’s Indore Sub-Zonal Office has provisionally attached 56 residential plots in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This action is part of an investigation into the embezzlement of Rs 20.47 crore from the Block Education Office in Alirajpur district. The probe revealed that the funds were siphoned off by the then Block Education Officer Kamal Rathore and others.
Further investigation uncovered that the embezzled money was funneled through multiple bank accounts controlled by Rathore and his family. The funds were then withdrawn in cash and used to buy agricultural land in Gandhwani tehsil, which was later developed into residential plots under the project “Shri Balaji Dham.” This development was allegedly aimed at concealing the illegal source of the funds.
The 56 residential plots attached under this project are valued at over Rs 6 crore. Previous enforcement actions resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and freezing of bank accounts. Kamal Rathore, the main accused, was arrested for his involvement in money laundering. Assets worth Rs 4.43 crore belonging to Rathore were earlier provisionally attached and later confirmed by the competent authority.
A Prosecution Complaint was filed against Kamal Rathore and other accused individuals before the Special Court in Indore. The case sheds light on a complex money laundering scheme where public funds meant for education were diverted for personal gains through land development. The attached properties are now under ED control to prevent any sale or transfer, with ongoing efforts to trace the full money trail and recover additional proceeds of crime.
