Patna: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Patna zonal office, on Friday provisionally attached an immovable property — agricultural land valued at Rs 17.35 lakh — under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an ongoing investigation involving Sadre Alam, former chief general manager and regional officer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Patna.The action follows an FIR registered by the CBI, anti-corruption branch, Patna, under Sections 7 and 8, and 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case, registered in Sept 2022, accused Alam of acquiring disproportionate assets during his tenure at NHAI.Investigations revealed that Alam allegedly amassed assets far exceeding his known sources of income, with disproportionate assets estimated at around Rs 89 lakh between July and Sept 2022.The probe further indicated that the proceeds of crime generated through illegal activities were laundered through a complex money trail. “Huge cash amounts were deposited in the bank accounts related to Alam and then routed through multiple layers of bank transfers to obscure the origin. Despite repeated requests, he failed to provide any valid explanation or documentary evidence regarding the source of the cash of Rs 71 lakh recovered from his residential premises during the CBI search operation,” officials said.The total proceeds of crime quantified in the case stand at Rs 89 lakh, of which Rs 71 lakh in cash and jewellery has already been seized by the CBI.In accordance with Section 5(1) of the PMLA, 2002, the ED has now provisionally attached the agricultural land registered in Alam’s name, treating it as equivalent in value to the proceeds of crime. “The total value of the attached property stands at Rs 17,35,880,” ED officials said, adding that further investigation is under way to trace additional assets, unravel the full money laundering network, and identify any other involved parties.
