Enforcement Directorate arrests Lucknow-based IRS officer in money laundering case
A Mumbai court granted Sawant’s custody to the Enforcement Directorate till July 5 for further interrogation, the ED said through its official Twitter handle.
The Mumbai unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested 2008-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sachin Balasaheb Sawant here in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case registered against him, officials said on Wednesday.
Sawant, who was posted as additional director of Customs and GST in Lucknow, was taken to Mumbai by the ED unit for further investigation, they said.
A Mumbai court granted Sawant’s custody to the Enforcement Directorate till July 5 for further interrogation, the ED said through its official Twitter handle.
The Enforcement Director registered the PMLA case against Sawant in connection with alleged illegal diversion and transfer of over ₹500 crore by diamond traders and merchants while he was serving the ED as a deputy director of Mumbai Zone 2 before coming to Lucknow, a senior ED officer aware of the development said.
The officer also said the ED raided Sawant’s two houses in Lucknow and Mumbai on Monday night in connection with the PMLA case registered against him based on disproportionate assets (DA) case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) some months ago.
The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau had registered the DA case in Mumbai on June 30, 2022. The IRS officer along with his father, mother and wife were named in the FIR.
In Lucknow, the ED sleuths visited his house at posh Shalimar One World apartments alongside Shaheed Path under the Gomti Nagar Extension police station limits on Tuesday.
While investigating the case involving diamond traders, Sawant had initially brought to light the unlawful activities surrounding the case. However, a complaint filed against Sawant by an accused, who was subsequently arrested, resulted in the CBI registering an FIR against him.
The official said the CBI had assessed that Sawant had amassed 204 % more wealth as compared to his earnings between 2011-2020. He said Sawant purchased a flat worth ₹ 1.02 crore in the name of a company floated by himself. His father, who retired from the police department, was director the company.
“He even owned a BMW car and other expensive things,” the Enforcement Director officer added.
The Enforcement Directorate raid was conducted on the IRS officer’s residence to gather evidence and ascertain any possible links or involvement of Sawant in the illicit diversion and remittance of funds. The ED is looking into the money laundering aspect of the case and will try to track the money trail. The agency will also probe if the proceeds of the crime were used to purchase or acquire any properties.
