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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Sandeep Singh, an Assistant Director at the ED, after his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 7, 2024. Singh was detained in New Delhi while allegedly in possession of Rs 20 lakh in cash, which he had purportedly extorted from an individual under investigation by the ED.
The arrest followed a joint search operation conducted by the ED and CBI. Singh was found with the cash during the operation, which was conducted as part of a broader investigation into corruption and bribery within the ED. In response, the ED has initiated criminal action against Singh, including registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and conducting search operations at his residence on August 8, 2024.
The searches were aimed at collecting evidence related to Singh’s alleged criminal activities. His office was also searched jointly by the CBI and ED to gather additional information relevant to the case. The ED is also considering immediate suspension of Singh and his repatriation to his parent department.
The case against Singh emerged from an ongoing money laundering investigation involving various entities and multiple FIRs from Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Bangalore police. Singh, acting as the “Search Warrant Authorized Officer,” was involved in a search at the Mumbai residence of Vipul Thakkar, owner of M/s V S Gold, a suspect in the money laundering case. Although Singh was not the investigating officer, he allegedly misrepresented himself as one and accepted a bribe to influence the investigation.
The ED’s swift action underscores its commitment to zero tolerance towards corruption, and further investigations into Singh’s activities are ongoing.