ED Attaches Assets of Former Assam IAS Officer Under PMLA
Action taken under PMLA in disproportionate assets case against ex-excise secretary.
New Delhi, Mar 10 : The Enforcement Directorate on Monday said it has attached immovable properties valued at over Rs 5 crore as part of its money laundering investigation against former Assam excise secretary Indreswar Kalita.
The action follows a case registered by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, which alleged that Kalita possessed assets significantly disproportionate to his known sources of income.
According to the agency, the vigilance probe found that between March 1, 2000 and December 31, 2018, Kalita accumulated wealth amounting to Rs 5.64 crore that could not be explained through legitimate earnings. The value of these assets was estimated to be about 131 per cent higher than his reported income during the period.
Based on the findings, the ED issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, covering six immovable properties collectively valued at Rs 5.64 crore. Among them is a property located on Zoo Road in Guwahati.
Investigators alleged that several properties were acquired either directly in Kalita’s name or through relatives, including his wife, who reportedly lacked sufficient income sources. The agency claimed this arrangement was intended to conceal the true ownership and the origin of the funds used for the purchases.
The ED further alleged that the value of certain transactions was deliberately understated in official sale deeds to mask the actual cash used in acquiring the properties. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
