The ongoing activities of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) involve conducting searches at the premises belonging to Kiran Devi, an elected representative of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, situated in the city of Arrah. These actions are part of an investigative effort linked to a case concerning alleged money laundering. It is noteworthy that last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had undertaken searches at various sites associated with Kiran Devi's spouse, Arun Yadav, who is a former MLA.
The current raids are focused on three different locations, one of which includes the residential address of Kiran Devi, who serves as the elected representative for the Sandesh constituency within the Bhojpur district.
A total of 16 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against Arun Yadav, primarily identified as a sand trader operating in the Arrah district. Additionally, several chargesheets have been submitted against him in connection with many of these cases.
Subsequently, taking cognizance of the FIRs and chargesheets, the Enforcement Directorate initiated proceedings related to alleged money laundering against Arun Yadav and other implicated individuals in 2021. As part of this process, statements from Arun Yadav and his family members were recorded under the provisions outlined in Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Furthermore, exhaustive documentation concerning property holdings and banking transactions associated with Yadav was meticulously collected.
The ongoing investigation has unearthed a total of 72 immovable assets valued at Rs 9.90 crore, encompassing agricultural lands, residential flats, and plots located in both the Arrah district and Patna. Additionally, a significant sum of Rs 20.5 crore in cash was also seized. These assets are believed to have been acquired through illicit means, spanning the period from 2002-03 to 2021-22.
