Lucknow: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it seized a large volume of financial records and property-related documents during searches at 11 locations across Uttar Pradesh as part of a money laundering investigation involving former Jhansi MLA Deep Narayan Singh Yadav and others.The searches were conducted on Wednesday by the ED’s Allahabad sub-zonal office under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Premises linked to the case were covered in Jhansi, Lucknow and other places in the state, the agency said.The money laundering probe originates from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment. The FIR alleges that Yadav accumulated disproportionate assets worth about ₹23.02 crore beyond his known sources of income during the check period.The ED said its inquiry has also relied on multiple FIRs and charge sheets filed against the former legislator. The agency stated that more than 60 criminal cases have been registered against Yadav at police stations in Jhansi and other districts.These cases include allegations of dacoity, attempt to murder, extortion, attempt to commit culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust, cheating and forgery, which the agency noted include scheduled offences under the PMLA.Investigators suspect that substantial proceeds of crime were generated through the alleged criminal activities and through misuse of political influence, and were later laundered through investments and a web of entities to conceal the source of funds. The ED alleged that a network of companies, including suspected shell firms, was used to layer and integrate the proceeds before projecting them as legitimate assets. The agency said the investments were routed through entities allegedly controlled by Yadav, his family members and close associates.The ED further alleged that several movable and immovable properties were acquired in the names of associates and distant relatives using suspected proceeds of crime, and later shown as untainted assets.
