VIJAY
Ranchi, March 4: The Jharkhand tender scam involving chief engineer Virendra Ram has taken a new turn after a fresh FIR was lodged by Delhi police against Ram and others for forging KYC to open fake bank accounts which were used for money laundering.
The FIR was lodged by joint director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Kapil Raj who is supervising money laundering investigation against Virendra.
Virendra Ram, the chief engineer of the Rural Development was arrested by the agency a week back following a raid resulting in seizure of incriminating documents of disproportionate assets, cash and other things.
This FIR was lodged against Virendra Ram, Chartered accountant Mukesh Mittal and others under section 419, 420, 465, 466, 468, 471, 473, 474, 476, 484, and 120B of the IPC. The ED conducting an inquiry into the tender scam came across many incriminating evidences against Virendra Ram and others for forging PAN card to open bank accounts on fictitious names which were used for the purpose of money laundering. In the light of the findings the ED lodged a criminal complaint against Ram and others at Delhi police.
Investigation revealed that one Tara Chand, resident of Rohini in New Delhi created forged IDs and KYC documents in the name of one fictitious entity Sachin Gupta for opening of three bank accounts in the name of three different proprietorship firms namely Shri Khatushyam Traders, Anil kumar Govind Ram Traders and Om Traders, which were used for routing of illicit funds of Virendra Ram.
Tara Chand did it at the instruction of Delhi based chartered accountant Neeraj Mittal. Virendra Ram with the help of Mukesh Mittal layered ill-gotten money earned by misusing his official position and infused the fund into his family member’s accounts. It was found that huge amounts were received in the bank accounts of family members of Virendra Ram, first in the joint account (Canara Bank2577257010412 maintained at NSE Branch, New Delhi, in the name Rajkumari who is wife of Virendra Ram.
An amount to the tune of Rs. 9.30 crore were deposited her account during period F.Y. 2014-15 to F.Y. 2018-19, and then in the bank account (Canara Bank 127000628767, maintained at SME Naraina Vihar Branch in the name of Genda Ram to the tune of Rs.4.48 crores in a span of 31-32 days between December 22 till January 23. Genda Ram is father of Virendra Ram.
Funds in both accounts were received from the dummy bank accounts maintained and operated in Delhi and controlled by Mukesh Mittal.
Amount being funded into the aforesaid joint bank account of Rajkumari were primarily from the two firms namely R K Investments and Consultancy whose proprietor is one Rakesh Kumar Kedia of New Delhi and R P Investments and Consultancy whose proprietor is one Reena Pal of New Delhi.
It is important to mention that Canara Bank A/c no. 2577214000002 of RK Investments and Consultancy is maintained in NSE Branch, Connaught Circle, New Delhi and its business address as per the account opening form is, E-165 Naraina, Delhi. Similarly, Canara Bank A/c no. 2577214000001 of RP Investment and Consultancy is maintained with NSE Branch, Connaught Circle, New Delhi and its business address as per account opening form is, G-56, Ashok Vihar, Phase I, New Delhi.
Further investigation revealed that a huge sum was received in the bank account of Genda Ram recently in 30 days and the fund was received from the accounts of employees/relatives of Mukesh Mittal.
It was observed that funds received into the bank accounts of Genda Ram, came primarily from the three persons, and all these three persons are either relatives or employees of CA Mukesh Mittal. It was revealed these persons Rakesh Kumar Kedia, Manish and Neha Shrestha are either his relative and employee’s relatives.
