Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, June 17: Following new searches this week against “renowned” builders, CAs, and others connected to the slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Saturday that it has seized documents pertaining to the sale and purchase of properties, cash worth Rs 17.80 lakh, and other items.
The searches were conducted on June 14 and 15 at 10 locations in Prayagraj, Lucknow and Delhi, according to a statement from the agency.
Various aides and associates of late Atiq Ahmad including “renowned” builders and chartered accountants were covered during the action which led to the seizure of Rs 17.80 lakh cash, documents related to the sale and purchase of properties, financial documents of companies, bank statements, mobile phones and laptops, it said.
The agency stated that physical and forensic analysis of the evidence it has seized is ongoing.
The Supreme Court ordered the CBI to file an FIR to look into charges of kidnapping, extortion and violence against the mafia-turned-politician and his men. This led to the money laundering case against Ahmad and his associates.
“Atiq Ahmad was a history teacher and the leader of a mafia gang that has long been involved in significant crimes of all kinds. Around 100 FIRs were filed against him in various police stations for offences like murder, extortion and land grabbing.
“It was found during probe that by indulging in criminal activities since 1989 and by usurping government and other people’s land properties, Atiq Ahmad amassed huge property in his name and that of his family members and also in the name of his associates and other benamidars (in whose name a benami property is standing),” the ED said.
The ED carried out its initial searches in this matter on April 12 and 13, leading to the confiscation of Rs 84.68 lakh in cash, Rs 60 lakh in gold bars, Rs 2.85 crore in gold and diamond jewellery, digital gadgets and different physical documents and records.
While being escorted by police to a Prayagraj medical college for a checkup, Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead at close range by three men posing as journalists on April 15.
