ED said that proceeds of crime acquired by Sheikh Shahjahan through his criminal activities were being held, disguised and concealed in the form of various movable and immovable properties.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹12.78 crore in its money laundering probe against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who was arrested on Thursday after being on the run for almost 50 days.
The agency in a statement on Tuesday said its probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has revealed that proceeds of crime acquired by Sheikh Shahjahan through his criminal activities were being “held, disguised and concealed” in the form of various movable and immovable properties.
“ED has attached proceeds of crime in form of immovable and movable properties to tune of ₹12.78 Crore. These properties include 14 immovable properties in the nature of apartment, agriculture land, land for fishery, land and building etc in Gram Serberia, Sandeshkhali and Kolkata. Two bank accounts have also been attached,” the agency said.
Shahjahan is accused in multiple cases of land grabbing and sexual assault and had been on the run since January 5 after Enforcement Directorate officials were attacked when they went to search his house in connection with the ration distribution scam.
The agency has been investigating Sheikh Shahjahan based on multiple first information reports (FIRs) registered by the West Bengal Police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and West Bengal State Highways Act. The crimes include giving threats of injury, murder, attempt to murder, extortion, grabbing land of general public, etc.