ED reveals illegal funding in Goa elections
Smart View- Complete news, in short words
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s ongoing investigation into a coal smuggling syndicate has revealed a shocking link with the Goa elections.
According to officials, during this investigation, possible links have emerged with the Goa Assembly Elections 2021-22, where there was alleged use of proceeds of crime (POC).
The raid on locations linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) was part of this investigation, which is uncovering layers of illegal funding in election campaigns.
ED reveals illegal funding in Goa elections
The investigating agency believes that the money earned from the coal smuggling network led by Anup Majhi was diverted through domestic and international hawala networks. Funds related to this syndicate were diverted to Goa elections, raising questions on the political processes.
The ED claimed that a hawala operator named R Kantilal, a resident of Kolkata, played a key role in transferring around Rs 20 crore to Goa. This information was received from the WhatsApp chat of an accountant who was associated with the syndicate.
Transfer of Rs 20 crore from coal smuggling syndicate
ED has traced a person named Akshay Kumar from Kolkata who has confessed to transferring the money. Akshay's statement revealed that he is associated with M/s Hertz and Pixelz firms.
These companies had supported I-PAC during the Goa elections. Investigators were told that these firms handled funds for election work.
Role of I-Pak and Hawala operators doubtful
The agency also alleged that money was sent through hawala to an event management company named ASM Event & Tech Private Limited, which was active during the elections.
ED claims that I-PAC director Prateek Jain took over the operations in Goa and helped in fund transfer.