A team from the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on Thursday at the residences of Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki, situated in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, as well as in various locations across Mumbai, by the provisions outlined in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The operation targeted not only Solanki but also his brother Rizwan Solanki, along with his associates, and individuals associated with real estate, namely Shaukat Ali and Haji Wasi, all based in Kanpur.
Additionally, Arshad, another individual linked to Solanki, was subjected to questioning at his residence. As the raids commenced, it was reported that the Enforcement Directorate team disconnected the CCTV connections at Solanki's premises.
These enforcement actions by the Directorate were initiated based on First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Kanpur Police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Solanki and his associates. These FIRs accused Solanki of engaging in illegal practices such as extortion and land grabbing.
According to the FIRs, Solanki allegedly resorted to unlawful means, including threats, manpower, and leveraging political influence, to unlawfully seize private and government-owned land, subsequently engaging in illegal construction and sale of the same. Furthermore, the FIRs implicated Solanki in facilitating the settlement of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India by obtaining Aadhar cards for them using fraudulent documents.
Upon investigation, the Enforcement Directorate uncovered a scheme involving the establishment of fake business entities to launder illicit funds and present tainted income as legitimate business earnings. Additionally, it was discovered that Solanki had constructed and was residing in opulent three-story bungalow residences spanning over an area exceeding 1000 square meters.
During the raids, the probe agency seized cash totaling Rs 26 lakh, various digital devices, and incriminating documents, including handwritten diaries. Moreover, illegal receipts indicating investments in partnerships, land transactions, and cash expenditures amounting to approximately 40-50 crore were confiscated, alongside evidence of property investments in Mumbai.
It is noteworthy that Irfan Solanki has been incarcerated for the past year following accusations of attempting to encroach upon a plot of land, with a total of 17 cases filed against him thus far.
Earlier, Solanki had filed an application to participate in voting during the Rajya Sabha elections, although his request was ultimately dismissed by the court.
In light of recent developments, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his party's confidence in the judiciary while expressing skepticism towards the government. He expressed hope for justice for party leaders such as Azam Khan, Irfan Solanki, and Ramakant Yadav, who have been embroiled in what he termed as "fabricated cases."
