THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, March 14: In relation to an ongoing sand mining case involving former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Gayatri Prajapati, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 13 locations on Thursday in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
Authorities conducted searches at the residences of Gayatri Prajapati, as well as his wife and sons, in various locations including Lucknow and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai in Maharashtra, and Delhi, among others.
The ongoing searches are being conducted in collaboration with state police forces, as part of the investigation initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2021 under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
Illegal sand mining, disproportionate assets, money laundering
The case stems from an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh vigilance department against Prajapati and his associates, alleging offences such as illegal sand mining and possession of assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, among other charges.
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In January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized four flats in Mumbai and numerous land parcels in Lucknow, collectively valued at over Rs 13 crore, belonging to Prajapati, his family, and associates.
The Enforcement Department (ED) alleges that Prajapati misused his official position as the mining minister of Uttar Pradesh to get substantial assets in the names of close associates and family members that were out of proportion to his actual income. These assets did not match their known revenue streams.
The former minister and his family are accused of money laundering, using fraudulent transactions to acquire numerous assets while using illegal funds amassed during his time in government.
Additionally, the agency asserted that Prajapati deposited illicit money obtained from his illegal actions into bank accounts owned by members of his family.