ED makes another arrest in ‘money laundering’ case linked to NHAI, HSIIDC

On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate announced a new arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial fraud between the NHAI and the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).

A man named Chandra Shekhar was detained on August 21 and, after being brought before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday (August 22), was ordered to be held in ED custody for seven days, according to a statement from the agency.

In this instance, the ED detained Naresh Kumar Sheokhand last month, a former district revenue officer-cum-land acquisition collector of Panchkula. He is currently in judicial custody.

According to the agency, Chandra Shekhar engaged in “active role” in “fraudulent” transfer of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and HSIIDC funds intended for land acquisition to ineligible people, resulting in wrongful loss to the exchequer of about Rs 38 crore.

These funds, according to the report, are “proceeds of crime” that were transferred to additional bank accounts before being withdrawn “in cash” and used to buy a variety of properties.

Chandra Shekhar was arrested because, according to the statement, he was “non-cooperative and resorted to withholding of relevant information and misleading the investigation.” In this case, property worth Rs 2.56 crore has already been attached.

An investigation into money laundering against the officer is being conducted as a result of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and criminal misconduct by public servant charges filed against the suspect by the CBI and the Haryana Vigilance Bureau.