The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 11 premises in Jhansi, Lucknow, and other places in Uttar Pradesh, recovering incriminating documents related to suspected benami properties linked to a former MLA facing 60 criminal cases. The ED’s Allahabad Sub Zonal Office carried out the searches as part of a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Deep Narayan Singh Yadav, a former MLA from Garautha Constituency in Jhansi. The investigation was initiated based on an FIR by the Vigilance Establishment, alleging that Yadav had amassed assets worth around Rs 23.02 crore beyond his known income sources.
The probe revealed that over 60 criminal cases, including serious offenses like dacoity, attempt to murder, and forgery, were registered against Yadav in various police stations in Uttar Pradesh. The offenses were categorized as scheduled offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. It was disclosed that Yadav allegedly generated significant proceeds of crime through criminal activities and misusing his political influence. The ED stated that he established a network of companies, including shell entities, to integrate the proceeds of crime and portray them as legitimate assets through different business entities and investments controlled by him and his associates.
During the searches, the ED seized incriminating records such as inter-company transactions, suspicious financial records, and documents related to luxury assets held by various entities associated with Yadav. The searches also uncovered companies existing only on paper, with no genuine business operations. Additionally, documents indicating suspected benami properties and the layering of proceeds of crime were confiscated by the ED.
