A hotel in London worth around Rs. 58.61 crore has been attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe against realty firm Unitech Group and its promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra.
The ED on Friday said the hotel 'Bed and Breakfast', which has been attached under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is owned by Ibournshorne Limited, a UK-based associate firm of the Carnoustie group.
So far, assets worth Rs 595.61 crore have been attached in this case.
The agency has filed a case of money laundering based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police on a complaint from homebuyers against the Unitech Group.
According to the ED, "tainted" funds of Rs 325 crore belonging to homebuyers were "diverted to" Carnoustie group and out of this, Rs 41.3 crore was diverted to UK after substantial layering through Carnoustie Group, India and through Indesign Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Cyprus.
The ED also claimed that these funds were used for purchasing the shares of Ibounshorne Limited, UK in the name of Carnoustie Management India Pvt Ltd, an entity belonging to Carnoustie group.
The ED had filed the case early this year against the Unitech Group and its promoters following allegations of illegally diverting over Rs 2,000 crore to Cyprus and the Cayman Islands. "Total proceeds of crime in this case is Rs 5,063.05 crore as determined till now," the ED had said.
In March this year, the ED had conducted raids at 35 locations in Mumbai and Delhi and its outskirts
(Published 30 July 2021, 08:51 IST)
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