The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday searched the offices of Viva Group run by the family of Vasai MLA and leader of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Hitendra Thakur, and two consultants to the group in connection with its probe into the alleged Rs 6,200 crore fraud perpetrated by Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) at Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.
Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations, the agency has arrested Viva Group MD Mehul Thakur and Director Madan Gopal Chaturvedi in connection with PMC and HDIL Scam.
The ED had conducted searches at the five locations belonging to Viva Group and its associates in Virar, Andheri, Juhu and Chembur areas. Rs 73 lakh in cash and digital and documentary evidence were recovered during the searches.
According to ED investigation, PMC-scam accused Wadhawans of Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) in connivance with Viva Group diverted more than Rs 160 crore from HDIL to many entities belonging to Viva Group in the garb of commission.
The investigative agency has filed a criminal case of money laundering against HDIL, its promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, former chairman Waryam Singh and ex-managing director Joy Thomas in the PMC Bank fraud case.
ED took cognizance of a Mumbai Police economic offences wing FIR against them that charged them with causing "wrongful loss, prima facie to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank and corresponding gains to themselves".
Viva Group run by the family of Vasai MLA and leader of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Hitendra Thakur.
Thakur is a six-time MLA from Vasai and his party has a strong presence in the semi-urban centres of Virar, Vasai and Nalasopara in Palghar district. It currently has three MLAs in the Maharashtra Legislative
Assembly, including Thakur’s son Kshitij – a two-time MLA. The party has extended its support to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government.