Kolkata: ED Recovers Over 17 Cr Cash In Mega Crackdown On Businessman In Gaming App Scam, Raids Conclude

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 provisions, which were followed in conducting the continuing searches.

ED seized huge amount of cash during raids in money-laundering case. (Image: PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted six raids in Kolkata on Saturday in connection with a probe into alleged mobile gambling applications and confiscated around Rs 17 crore in cash, news agency PTI reported. After a massive amount of cash was recovered from the location, the federal agency arranged five note counting machines and bank officials to figure out the exact amount of cash. Counting is still underway and the final numbers are expected to rise.

A total of Rs 17.10 crores of cash were recovered in 5 trunks by ED officials from the Garden Reach residence of the businessman after a raid of over 13 hours of counting.

Several photographs and videos released by the probe agency A showed bundles of seized Rs 500 currency notes along with a few in the denomination of Rs 2,000 and Rs 200 stacked together on a bed.

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 provisions, which were followed in conducting the continuing searches. Cash counting and search procedures are in progress.

In search operations today, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at 6 premises in Kolkata in connection with an investigation relating to Mobile Gaming Application, Rs 7 Crores cash found so far, counting of the amount is still in progress. pic.twitter.com/VIkoLzE54K

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2022

The ED stated in a statement that a first information report (FIR) had been filed at the Park Street Police Station based on information from Federal Bank officials. Amir Khan has been listed as one of the defendants in the lawsuit. Khan had developed the smartphone game E-Nuggets.

The central investigative agency claimed that Khan created the app in an effort to deceive the public.

According to reports, CRPF personnel escorted the ED teams to locations like Garden Reach, Park Street and Mominpur areas in and around the West Bengal capital, among others.

"So far, huge cash of more than Rs 7 crore has been found at the premises and counting of the amount is still under progress," the Enforcement Directorate said.

The federal agency is looking into any connections between this app and its operators and other "Chinese controlled" applications that issued loans at excessive rates to naive individuals. In several cases, the loan recipients committed suicide after being threatened by these loan operators to make payments.

(With Inputs From Agencies)