The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials have taken a firm stance in the Attica Gold Private Limited case, which has created a sensation across the country. Extensive searches were carried out simultaneously in Telugu states as well as neighboring states under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
ED officials conducted searches simultaneously in 16 areas in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The searches were conducted at the headquarters and branches of Attica Gold Private Limited, as well as at the offices and residences of the company’s directors, shareholders, former directors, and several affiliated companies.
Purchases targeted stolen gold…
The ED has intensified this investigation based on several FIRs and charge sheets registered at police stations. It has mainly focused on the property acquired through criminal means. The officials have found that Attica Gold is purchasing the stolen gold in violation of the rules and that a huge amount of criminal income has been generated through the gold acquired illegally. ED officials are investigating the real masterminds behind these transactions, hawala channels, and financial irregularities.
Foreign currency, gold, and silver seized..
The ED officials obtained key evidence during these two-day long searches. As part of the searches, the officials seized Rs. 7.52 lakh in cash, as well as a large amount of foreign currency, gold ornaments, and silver items.
It is noteworthy that key people related to the company were not available during these searches. These searches were also conducted at the residences of P.S. Ayub alias Bommanahalli Babu, Obedullah A., Mohammed Salman A., Arbin Taj A. and others. However, officials revealed that some key people and directors fled without cooperating with the ED investigation.
ED sources stated that some people were also ordered not to be available during the searches. ED officials have clarified that the investigation has been further accelerated based on the currently seized documents and items, and that search operations have been intensified for the absconding accused.