Bhopal, June 16 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth approximately Rs 1.47 crore belonging to Hero Keswani, an Upper Division Clerk in the Medical Education Department, Bhopal, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The attachment order was issued on June 10, 2026. The case stems from an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Investigation revealed that between January 1, 2005, and August 3, 2022, Keswani acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The unexplained assets amount to around 286.27% of his legitimate earnings during the period.

During searches conducted by the EOW, a cash amount of Rs 86.73 lakh was recovered from his residence, which Keswani failed to satisfactorily explain. Further probe by the ED found that the proceeds of crime were routed and invested in the name of his wife, who reportedly has no credible or verifiable independent source of income. Claims of income from household activities were found to be unsupported by evidence.

Analysis of bank accounts showed irregular cash deposits and suspicious transactions inconsistent with his known income. The investigation also revealed attempts at layering and projection of the proceeds of crime as legitimate.

Keswani allegedly failed to disclose his assets and income details to the department and tried to conceal ownership by acquiring properties in the names of family members.

The attached assets include immovable properties, bank balances, and cash, all identified as proceeds of crime.

The ED stated that the attachment was made to prevent concealment or dissipation of these assets.

The investigation remains ongoing, with the ED likely to trace further financial trails and possible involvement of other individuals.

Hero Keswani’s case adds to the growing list of actions taken by central agencies against corrupt practices in government departments in Madhya Pradesh.

–IANS

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