The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹1.53 crore belonging to a Karnataka-cadre IPS officer and a police head constable in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the state’s police sub-inspector (SI) recruitment process during 2021–22.
Action Taken Under PMLA
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the federal agency said the attachment was ordered on Friday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The seized properties include residential units held by IPS officer Amrit Paul and head constable Sridhar H.
Background of the Case
Amrit Paul, a 1995-batch Indian Police Service officer, was arrested in 2022 by the Karnataka Crime Investigation Department (CID). At the time of the alleged irregularities, he was serving as Additional Director General of Police (Recruitment).
The CID probe had pointed to manipulation and procedural violations in the recruitment process, leading to criminal proceedings against several officials.
SI Recruitment Controversy
The case relates to the Karnataka Police recruitment drive aimed at filling 545 sub-inspector posts. While a provisional list of selected candidates was initially released, complaints soon surfaced alleging corruption and malpractice in the examination and evaluation process.
Following these allegations, the recruitment exercise came under scrutiny, triggering investigations by state agencies and later the ED to examine potential proceeds of crime and financial misconduct.
