ED issues notice against Balkrishna for violating forex rules

The Enforcement Directorate has slapped a show cause notice against a firm related to Yoga guru Ramdev's close aide Balkrishna for alleged violations of forex rules.

Balkrishna, who has been booked under the criminal provisions of money laundering recently by the agency, is a co-director in a food firm which has been alleged to have contravened the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

"The agency has issued a FEMA notice involving an amount of Rs 4.36 crore and a reply has been sought from the firm and office bearers," agency sources said.

The notice has asked the firm, Balkrishna and others to reply to the agency in a fortnight's time about the alleged irregularities.

Balkrishna, who has been charged by the CBI for alleged violations of the Passport Act, is also facing the ED's heat with regard to money laundering charges on account of travels and investments made abroad using the passport which the CBI alleges is forged.

The ED registered the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) acting on the CBI FIR which had charged Balkrishna with violations of the Passport Act.

The agency suspects that Balkrishna, who has been looking after various trusts run by Ramdev, could have parked the alleged laundered money abroad using the forged passport as claimed by CBI.

The ED may also move to arrest Balkrishna, who walked out of jail on bail on August 17. He was sent to jail last month after he was arrested by CBI for allegedly submitting fake documents for obtaining Indian passport.

The CBI had registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against Balkrishna on
July 23 last year for allegedly procuring fake degree and violating Section 12 of Indian Passport Act by furnishing fake and forged High School and graduation certificates to the passport authorities for obtaining the document.