ED Conducts Raids Across Three States, Uncovers Environmental Crimes & Financial Irregularities
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, 19, July 2024
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, has executed a series of coordinated search operations on July 16, 2024, spanning seven locations in Punjab, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. These operations targeted facilities associated with liquor company M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd and properties linked to its former Director, Gautam Malhotra, son of Deep Malhotra, as part of a money laundering investigation tied to environmental offenses.
The ED’s inquiry was sparked by a Criminal Complaint filed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Ferozepur against M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd. The allegations include severe violations of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, centering on the contamination of soil and groundwater in proximity to its manufacturing premises.
Investigations revealed that the company illicitly discharged industrial effluents into unauthorized bore-wells within its industrial unit, causing significant environmental damage, endangering public health, and resulting in livestock fatalities in adjacent areas. Furthermore, it was uncovered that proceeds from these environmental infractions were funneled back into the company’s operations.
The search operation yielded crucial evidence, including digital devices and incriminating documents. Notably, unaccounted cash amounting to Rs. 78.15 Lakh was seized under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The ED’s ongoing investigation aims to trace the financial trail associated with these illicit activities.
The ED’s proactive measures underscore its commitment to combating financial malfeasance linked to environmental crimes, ensuring accountability and safeguarding environmental integrity across affected regions.
