Team Goemkarponn
GURUGRAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped up its money laundering probe against businessman and former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda, conducting searches at three properties associated with him in Gurugram over an alleged Rs 248-crore real estate fraud.
The searches were conducted under the provisions of Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at Kanda’s residence, farmhouse and office.
The agency’s investigation relates to four commercial real estate projects in which approximately Rs 248.46 crore was allegedly collected from 661 investors. According to the ED, investors were offered assurances including timely possession, returns on their investments, lease rentals and execution of sale deeds.
However, the agency alleges that the promised properties were not handed over to the investors and the corresponding sale deeds were not executed.
The ED is examining the movement of the funds collected from the investors and has alleged that a portion of the money was diverted to different companies associated with Kanda.
Kanda, 60, had also been searched by the ED in August 2023 in connection with another money laundering investigation.
The businessman entered politics through the Haryana Lokhit Party and served as its MLA from Sirsa. He held ministerial portfolios including home, industries and urban local bodies in the Haryana government and currently heads the party founded by him.
Kanda also has business interests in Goa, including an offshore casino operation.
He was earlier an accused in the death case of Geetika Sharma, a former air hostess employed by MDLR Airlines, which was founded and operated by Kanda. A Delhi court acquitted Kanda in the case in 2023.This version uses a fresh structure and wording rather than closely following the supplied copy.
