ED attaches Rs 3 crore assets in Bhopal dairy products money laundering case

Bhopal, June 16 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties valued at approximately Rs 3 crore in connection with a major money laundering investigation involving adulterated dairy products.

The attachment, made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, includes a residential house, several plots of land and bank balances held in the names of Sunil Kumar Tripathi, his family members and entities controlled by them. The action targets M/s Jayshri Gayatri Food Products Pvt. Ltd. (JGFPL) and related individuals.

According to the ED, the investigation was initiated based on FIRs registered at Police Station Habibganj and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal. The cases involve serious charges under the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and the use of forged documents, against the company’s directors, officials, and other associated persons.

The probe revealed that JGFPL was allegedly engaged in the manufacturing and export of adulterated dairy products. The company reportedly used forged laboratory reports to secure export clearances. Sunil Kumar Tripathi, former CEO of the company, is accused of playing a key role in preparing and using these forged documents. These reports were subsequently used to obtain health certificates for exports.

Further investigation uncovered that Tripathi was involved in the diversion and misappropriation of dairy products from the company’s stocks. The diverted goods were allegedly sold through various entities using fictitious invoices and bills. The proceeds from these sales were routed through multiple unrelated entities via a complex chain of fictitious transactions to conceal their criminal origin.

In a significant development, the ED has arrested Kishan Modi, Managing Director of JGFPL, and Sunil Kumar Tripathi. Both are currently in judicial custody, and the agency has already filed a Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court (PMLA).

The ED stated that further investigation is underway to identify additional proceeds of crime, trace the complete money trail and ascertain the involvement of other persons and entities in the money laundering offence.

–IANS

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