SIT to probe extortion allegations against ED officials

Mumbai: A special investigation team (SIT), headed by additional commissioner of police (Crime), will look into the allegations that some unknown Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are running an extortion racket in Mumbai

Mumbai: A special investigation team (SIT), headed by additional commissioner of police (Crime), will look into the allegations that some unknown Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are running an extortion racket in Mumbai. The inquiry has been transferred out from the city Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Notably, no FIR has been filed in the matter as yet.

The complainant, Shiv Sena functionary Arvind Jagannath Bhosale, in his letter to the Mumbai police commissioner, did not name any specific ED officials (HT PHOTO)

A police source said that the preliminary inquiry into the matter does not indicate the scope for the investigation of an economic offence, rather it looks like a complaint of an extortion matter, hence the inquiry has been transferred out from EOW.

The written complaint was filed by Shiv Sena functionary Arvind Bhosle, who has named several companies and therefore the officer will also have to verify their identities and scrutinise their bank details. EOW officials had already recorded the statements of a few top functionaries of a few companies over suspected transactions.

Bhosale had filed the complaint last month after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at a press conference claimed that he had exposed the biggest corruption by ED officials and listed 70 bank transactions worth ₹58.93 crore remitted to one businessman Jitendra Navlani’s accounts.

The complainant, Shiv Sena functionary Arvind Jagannath Bhosale, in his letter to the Mumbai police commissioner, did not name any specific ED officials. The letter said “unknown personnel of the Enforcement Directorate of the western region”.

“A key name in this network is Jitendra Chandralal Navlani. He has seven companies in which funds have come from over 100 builders. The companies, which were under the ED probe, have transferred money to these seven companies. Navlani works for senior ED officials, including directors and joint directors,” Raut had alleged.

Citing an example, Raut had said that in 2017, ED probed Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. Subsequently, ₹25 crore were transferred from Dewan Housing Finance to Navlani’s seven companies. Till March 31, 2020, additionally ₹15 crore were transferred to Navlani’s companies, the documents showed.