Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Ranchi/New Delhi, October 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has ordered a luxury BMW car seized from Delhi residence of Chief Minister Hemen Soren last year under the prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) under Delhi -based Appellate Tribunal.
Car-one 2021 model BMW-Ko was seized on January 29, 2024, when the ED discovered at Soren’s residence regarding the alleged Jharkhand land scam related money-laundering investigation.
The vehicle is registered in the name of Bhagwandas Holdings Private Limited, which challenged the seizure before the tribunal.
In its appeal, the company argued that even after 21 months, the ED had failed to produce any evidence connecting it or the vehicle to the alleged money-laundering case. The tribunal agreed, given that a car is a depreciation property and cannot be kept under seizure indefinitely without proof of its participation in the crime.
The tribunal said, “Until it is established that the car was acquired through the income of the crime or used in money laundering, its continuous seizure is unfair,” the tribunal said, directed the ED to issue a vehicle within six weeks.
The company’s counsels, Rohit Sharma and Rajesh Inamdar said that neither the firm nor its directors were named in the ECIR or any ED’s prosecution in the complaint. The tribunal also noted the absence of any concrete evidence presented by the ED to justify its action.
Rejecting the arguments of the agency, the Tribunal ordered the petitioner to return the car with certain conditions.
The company is directed not to sell or dispose of the vehicle for a year and to maintain it in a position to work.
The tribunal further clarified that if on new evidence surfaces, ED would be free to take appropriate action.
The order was issued on 25 September, but now it has come to light. It follows the same directions in the same case, under which other seized items including digital equipment have already been returned to the petitioner.
,
SNC/SKP/VD