The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken major action against Ms Niharika Singh, a 2006 batch Indian Foreign Services (IFS) Officer, in a Ponzi Scam. She was last posted in Tokyo.
In the Ani bullion scam, the ED has seized her movable and immovable properties worth Rs 2.03 crore. ED has also seized the cash deposited in Ms Singh’s bank account, her FDR and agricultural land in Barabanki, UP.
The attachment proceedings were initiated under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Ms Singh is the wife of the main accused in the scam, Ajit Kumar Gupta who is posted at the Indian Consulate in Bali, Indonesia.
ED had started the investigation by registering a case in the year 2019 on the basis of various cases registered against Any Bullion Company for defrauding investors.
In the investigation, Ms Singh was summoned by giving a notice after finding strong evidence of her involvement in the scam. After giving notice four times, Ms Singh was thoroughly interrogated on 16th and 17th October. Thereafter, ED took this action by deciding to confiscate their properties.
Any Bullion Company is accused of embezzling about Rs 110 crore from investors. Out of this, a large amount of money was transferred to the bank accounts of Niharika Singh, from which many properties were purchased. Even before this, ED has seized 20 properties in Delhi, Lucknow and Amethi worth about Rs 7.07 crore in the Ani Bullion scam.
