Raipur, October 12 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Ram Gopal Agarwal in Raipur in connection with a money laundering case. This arrest was made under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
In an official statement released on Monday, the ED indicated that Agarwal’s arrest is linked to the Chhattisgarh custom rice milling scam, which involved the illegal collection of approximately Rs 147 crore from rice millers. The special court in Raipur has remanded Agarwal to five days of ED custody.
The investigation was initiated based on a prosecution complaint filed by the Income Tax Department under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860. Following this, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur also registered an FIR under multiple provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Investigations revealed that the special incentive for custom rice milling for the Kharif season 2021-22 was increased from Rs 40 per quintal to Rs 120 per quintal. Subsequently, a syndicate involving officials from the Chhattisgarh State Rice Millers Association and Markfed illegally collected Rs 20 per quintal in cash from rice millers in exchange for their incentive payments. Those who refused to pay the illegal amount had their bills deliberately withheld.
From December 2022 to July 2023, around Rs 147 crore was illegally collected, constituting proceeds of crime under the PMLA, 2002. Further investigations revealed that Agarwal played a crucial role in organizing, monitoring, and controlling the illegal cash collections from rice millers. He directed the collection of illegal payments through officials of the rice millers’ association. Cash collected from various districts was reportedly communicated to Roshan Chandrakar, the then treasurer of the association, who regularly updated Agarwal on district-wise collections. The illegally obtained cash was then handed over to individuals as instructed by Agarwal.
The ED continues its investigation and actions related to this case.
Leave a Comment