Newsroom24x7 Network

New Delhi: Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached movable as well as immovable assets worth Rs. 2.39 Cr belonging to the accused Bhaben Maitra, Bipra Charana Maharana, Sadananda Nayak, Jisudan Khosla, Jayaram Garada Jaganath Apat and late Urdhaba Khosla under the PMLA, 2002 in the case of misappropriation of funds of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).

Investigation was initiated under PMLA, 2002 on the basis of six FIRs registered under sections U/s 120-B, 409, 420, 467, 468, & 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 13 (2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Branch, Bhubaneswar against Bhaben Maitra, the erstwhile General Manager (Finance) HAL [ED press note says Maitra was GM-Finance but according to a comment posted on this news item by a Newsroom24x7 follower, who obviously appears to be knowledgeable , the accused person was not GM but senior Manager (Finance). News updated, but not without inquiry after a READER had posted the comment below], and others who embezzled an amount of Rs. 18.75. Crore of HAL by forgiving of documents and using the same as genuine during the period from 2013- to 2018.

Investigation revealed that Bhaben Maitra and others, have acquired monetary proceed through commission of crimes and indulged in criminal activities, generated proceeds of crimes, concealed it and acquired various assets to hide their source and projected them as untainted. The properties acquired by these accused by using the proceeds of crime have accordingly been attached under PMLA, 2002.

Inquiry by Newsroom24x7 has revealed that the case in this matter was registered by CBI in 2017 on the basis of inputs provided by the HAL administration.

Further investigation in this case is under progress