Money laundering probe: ED freezes ₹6 cr assets of ex-Cong minister Ashu, aides

Besides the premises of the former minister, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also conducted searches at those of Raman Balasubramanium, a former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), and some others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Assets and deposits worth more than ₹6 crore have been seized in searches against former Punjab minister and Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu and some others as part of a money laundering case probe linked to an alleged tender scam, the ED said on Saturday.

The premises of former Punjab minister and Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu were raided by ED sleuths on August 24. (HT File)

The raids were launched on August 24 in 25 locations in Punjab.

Besides the premises of the former minister, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also conducted searches at those of Raman Balasubramanium, a former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), and some others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Ashu, a former minister of food and civil supplies in the Punjab government, is currently a working president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.

In a statement, the federal agency said ₹4.81 crore kept in multiple bank accounts of the searched persons, prima facie identified as proceeds of crime, were freezed apart from five immovable properties worth about ₹1.54 crore along with four bank lockers. “Incriminating documents, digital devices and Indian currency of around ₹30 lakh were also seized from various premises,” it said.

The money laundering investigation stems from a Punjab Vigilance Bureau FIR in connection with two cases – including ₹2,000 crore foodgrain transportation scam and illegal sale of plots under Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), the ED said.

It was alleged that the tenders “were allotted to contractors who approached the minister (Ashu) through Rakesh Kumar Singla, chairman of CVC, food and civil supplies”, the ED said “Through this favouritism, the contractors got undue advantages causing loss to the government exchequer,” it alleged.