Karnataka: ED arrests two in KIADB compensation 'fraud' case
New Delhi, Sep 5: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said it has arrested a retired official of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and a land broker as part of a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged fraudulent disbursal of compensation worth Rs 72 crore.
Vasantkumar Durgappa Sajjan, a retired special land acquisition officer of the KIADB, and Maibub Allabuksh Dundasi were taken into custody on Tuesday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED said in a statement.
The KIADB is the nodal agency for land acquisition in Karnataka.
The money-laundering case stems from an FIR and a chargesheet filed by the Dharwad district CID, alleging that Sajjan and some other officials of the KIADB, Dharwad "conspired" with land brokers and some other accused and sanctioned an amount of Rs 19.99 crore to seven individuals on the pretext of compensation for land acquisition.
"However, these individuals had been paid compensation previously. This caused loss to the government exchequer," the federal agency said.
The ED found out that money was withdrawn "fraudulently" from the KIADB as compensation for land acquisition during 2021-22. However, compensation to the original land sellers was paid in 2010-12, the probe found.
It was found that the fraudulently-withdrawn money was transferred into bank accounts opened with fake identity and address proofs, the agency claimed.
"The actual fraudulent payments exceeded the FIR amount, reaching approximately Rs 72 crore.
"These payments were made to bank accounts opened with fake identities and then laundered through shell accounts. The funds were used to acquire immovable properties, vehicles, residential properties and fixed deposits," the ED said.
Searches were conducted by the agency in the case at a dozen locations across Karnataka last month.
ED, Bengaluru has arrested Vasantkumar Durgappa Sajjan, a retired Special Land Acquisition Officer of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), and land broker Maibub Allabuksh Dundasi on 3/09/2024 under the PMLA, 2002.
— ED (@dir_ed) September 5, 2024
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Bengaluru: Four arrested in prostitution racket; four women rescued
Bengaluru (PTI): Four people, among them two women, were arrested for running a prostitution racket from rented houses in parts of the city, police said on Monday.
With their arrest, police also rescued four women who were allegedly forced into prostitution, they said.
The arrests were made following tip-offs received by the Central Crime Branch’s Women Protection Unit on different dates, indicating that prostitution activities were being carried out in rented houses located in Padmanabhanagar, RK Layout, Sundarnagar, and NGF Layout, police said.
Based on information provided by informants, raids were conducted at these locations on different dates, they said.
“During the operations, four women involved in prostitution were rescued. In connection with the case, a total of four individuals, among them two women who were allegedly forcing others into prostitution, were taken into custody,” a statement issued by the office of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said.
Upon interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they contacted men seeking prostitution services over the phone and arranged for them to visit rented houses, where illegal activities were carried out for monetary gain, it said.
Cases have been registered against the accused at Subramanyapura, Jalahalli, and Jnanabharathi police stations, and further investigation is in progress, police added.
