SHIMLA: To break the backbone of the criminal nexus in organized crimes, the Anti Money Laundering Cell (AML-Cell) of Himachal Pradesh Police has booked 100 persons involving ill-gotten money worth Rs 65 Crores in 25 cases under PMLA in in the state in 2021-22.  

Apart from this, earlier Cell has also attached property of the Manav Bharati university worth Rs 194 crore in three cases under PMLA.

All these 25 cases have been forwarded to Enforcement Directorate (ED). ED has mandate to investigate and take action under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in all such cases, the police said.  

But ED has yet to share the action it has taken against these persons accused under the PMLA with Himachal Police so far.

Chaired by Himachal Pradesh Police DGP, the Anti Money Laundering Cell  has been  operational to combat the organized crimes in the state.

The police has shared information of major organized crimes which are predicate offences of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Government of India, said the DGP.

The Cell initially shared three cases registered against Manav Bharti University with the ED for financial investigation. The Cell took stern action and the ill-gotten proceeds of the accused to the tune of Rs 194 crores were attached, said the police, releasing the data of crimes investigated by AMLC.

According to the police, Himachal Pradesh Police have also targeted major criminals, drug, liquor and mining mafias and have successfully dismantled their networks.

Since May 2021, as many as 25 such cases were investigated thoroughly. The criminal nexus of the accused has been dismembered, said the police.  

Out of these 25 cases, the two cases are of embezzlement by public servant under Prevention of Corruption Act. Six cases are of Drug Trafficking and Five cases are of cheating and forgery.

Seven cases are of illicit liquor and four cases are of illegal mining. One case is of attempt to murder, said the crime data.

The police said the properties of more than 100 accused persons to the tune of Rs 65 crores in these cases were investigated. The properties were found to be of ill-gotten proceeds of crime.

They have been investigated. The information has been shared with the ED for further investigation under PMLA.

DGP said they hope that stern action will be taken by the ED by attaching ill-gotten wealth of these accused. This action will break the backbone of organized crime and syndicates, he added.