On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate seized properties worth Rs 66 lakh of ill-famed cybercriminals Pradip Kumar Mandal, Akash, Ankush, Ganesh, and others in Jamtara in a cyber-fraud case.
According to the sources, seized assets include three immovable residential properties at Mirga village which comes under the Narayanpur police station of Jamtara district. Apart from this, ED also confiscated four vehicles as well as balances in the bank account of the accused. The attachments were done under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The investigation was commenced by ED on the basis of a charge sheet filed by Jamtara police in July 2016 against Pradip and his unknown associates.
They were among the most wanted cybercriminals earning nationwide ill-repute for falsely withdrawing and transferring money from bank accounts and e-wallets of people by posing as bank officials. They were charged under sections 414/419/420/467/468/471 of IPC and section 66 (B)/ 66(C)/ 66(D) of Information Technology Act, 2002.
Under the provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sections 414/419/420/467/471 of IPC are listed as scheduled offenses. Investigation of Ranchi Zonal office of ED disclosed that accused persons and their associates had transferred funds in their bank accounts by misleading bank customers and others. Money was then invested in the construction of houses, purchasing vehicles, and raising bank balance.
The accused are in their thirties and have hoarded properties worth Rs 3 crore by swindling people by posing as bank and SEBI officials in the last five years. The Enforcement Directorate has already filed the charge sheet before the court of Special Judge, CBI-cum-Special Judge under PMLA at Ranchi for the commission of the offense.
