Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate on Thursday carried out searches in Mumbai, Nashik, Malegaon, Surat and other places as part of a probe into questionable transactions exceeding Rs 90 crore by businessman Siraj Mohammad Haroon Memon. The agency secured approximately Rs 1.8 crore in bank balances and various assets during the operation.
Officials said they are tracking the financial trail and attempting to identify people who withdrew suspiciously deposited funds in cash from accounts allegedly opened fraudulently to determine their final usage. They are yet to confirm if any politician used the funds in the current election.
Earlier, Malegaon police had registered a case against local resident Siraj Mohammad, a cold-drink distributor, for fraud and forgery. He allegedly deceived residents and used their accounts for suspicious deals. The FIR that said Siraj requested details to open a bank account, promising employment. Siraj had reportedly, through the complainant, sought Aadhaar and PAN cards from 12 other persons, with mobile SIM cards in their names. The details were used to open accounts in their name.
The matter came to light when one of them found substantial transactions in his account, leading to group discussions in Sept. The complainant in the FIR stated that he found a Rs 2 crore fixed deposit in his name against which a Rs 1.9 crore loan was obtained. He told the police that approximately Rs 90 crore in transactions through his and his friends.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said he had filed complaints with ED, Income Tax and Election Commission, alleging these funds were intended to sway voters during the current polls, which they termed as ‘vote-jihad’.
ED raids at 16 places were on at the time of going to press. Sources said more locations were being added.