New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over Rs 8 crore of former Samajwadi Party MP Ateeq Ahmad in connection with a money laundering investigation.
The provisionally attached properties "consist of property and balances in bank accounts worth Rs 8.14 crore and they belong to ex-legislature cum mafia Ahmad and his wife Shaista Parveen", PTI quoted the ED as saying.
Confirming the development, Joint Director of the zone Rajeshwar Singh said the attachments were done under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Ateeq Ahmad, 59, is currently lodged in the Sabarmati jail of Gujarat. He was shifted there from Uttar Pradesh on the Supreme Court's directions in 2019.
As many as 196 FIRs have been lodged against him by various police stations in Uttar Pradesh on charges of murder, extortion, cheating and land grabbing. He has also been charged under the Gangsters Act by the UP government.
The ED has attached a land property situated at 'arazi no 386 and 387, mauza katka, paragana Jhunsi' in the Phulpur Tehsil of Allahabad and it is in the name of Parveen, PTI reported.
"This property was acquired by Ateeq Ahmad for a consideration of Rs 4.5 crore only, which is far below the government value of Rs 6.86 crore," the ED said.
Rs 1.28 crore lying in 10 bank accounts of Ahmad and an account of Parveen has also been attached.
In its investigation, the ED has found that "Ahmad used to earn dirty money in cash and it was deposited/placed in his and his relative's bank accounts".
"It has also been noticed by ED that funds are being credited in their accounts from various firms and companies being run by his aides," the statement said.
These funds were used to acquire land property in the name of his wife at prices "far below" the government value, the agency found.
ED said it obtained information about these assets and transactions from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Income Tax Department and some other agencies.
"Statement of accused are being recorded and inquiry is being made to ascertain the source of funds invested in these companies. Money trail of the proceeds of crime is also being established," it said.
In September, Ateeq Ahmad and his wife joined AIMIM in presence of its chief Asaduddin Owaisi in Lucknow.