The financial probe agency has attached assets worth Rs 1.7 crore belonging to a government employee working as clerk with the Central Government Health Scheme in Kolkata, officials said.
According to Enforcement Directorate (ED), properties worth Rs 1.7 crore of accused Snehasish Kar and his family members have been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in a disproportionate assets case.
Suspicion grew when Kar was found to be not withdrawing money from his salary account for several months.
The attached properties consist of bank accounts, post office accounts, LIC policies, a car and two apartments in Kolkata.
“Among two flats, one flat is owned by Snehasish Kar and the other one is owned by his brother which was purchased by the accused and later the ownership was transferred in his brother’s name in the guise of a gift,” said the ED.
The probe agency initiated its investigations on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Kolkata against Snehashis Kar, an Upper Division Clerk in the office of Additional Director, Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Kolkata, wherein it was alleged that the accused misused his official position and amassed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 53.73 lakhs.
India Today TV has learnt that Snehashis Kar joined CGHS, Kolkata as casual worker (waterman) in 1981 and became regular staff as a nursing attendant in 1982.
Since January, 2017, he was working as an Upper Division Clerk. “Apart from his salary account, accused Snehasish Kar had several accounts in banks and post offices in his own name and in the name of his family members. In these accounts, he had kept huge deposits of cash and the accused was unable to explain the source of this money,” said the ED.
Officials maintain that Kar has also made several fixed deposits and other investments in his name and in the name of his family members.
“He has even acquired immovable properties in the form of two apartments at Kolkata and other assets like car, jewellery etc. Investigation has revealed that he was not withdrawing any amount from his salary accounts and thereby was making his household expenses through the illegally acquired money,” added the ED.
