ED Attaches Assets Of P Chidambaram’s Wife, Ex-CPM MLA in Saradha Case

In a major action in the Saradha Money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday stated that it has attached assets worth more than Rs 6 crore of “beneficiaries” like Nalini Chidambaram who is the wife of former Union finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, former CPM MLA Debendranath Biswas and a company owned by former Assam minister late Anjan Dutta.

According to media reports, a provisional order for attaching movable properties worth Rs 3.30 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 3 crore has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This was stated by the ED in an official statement. 

In the statement, it has been mentioned that these properties were owned by the Saradha Group and other people, who were beneficiaries of the “proceeds of crime” generated by the group.

The “beneficiaries” include Nalini Chidambaram, Debabrata Sarkar (East Bengal Club official), Debendranath Biswas (former IPS officer and ex-CPM MLA) and Anubhuti Printers and Publications owned by Dutta, a former Assam cabinet minister and president of state Congress party.

The ED said, “The quantum of total money mobilised by this group company is about Rs 2,459 crore out of which nearly Rs 1,983 crore remains unpaid to the depositors till date excluding the interest amount.”

It may be recalled that the money laundering case pertains to an alleged chit fund scam perpetrated by the Saradha Group in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha till 2013.

Assets worth about Rs 600 crore have been attached by the Enforcement Directorate in his case till now.