Guwahati: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati zone, has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth approximately Rs 2.15 crore in connection with a disproportionate asset case against a former senior food safety officer with the health and family welfare department in the govt of Assam.Action was taken against former officer Munindra Bhuyan under the provisions of the ‘Prevention of Money Laundering Act’ (PMLA) 2002, following an investigation linked to a case registered by the chief minister’s special vigilance cell in Guwahati.“ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR No. 01/2023 dated 17.01.2023, registered against Bhuyan under Sections 13 (1) (b) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possession of assets disproportionate to his known source of income,” the ED stated. The chargesheet revealed that during April 2001 to Feb 2022, while Bhuyan was still serving as the food inspector and senior food safety officer, he accumulated assets worth around Rs 3.80 crore, which was 223.19% higher than his known account.“Analysis of bank account statements of Munindra Bhuyan and his wife revealed systematic cash deposits amounting to Rs 36,53,000 and Rs 10,80,500, respectively, across multiple bank accounts during the period 2007 to 2021. These deposits could not be explained by any legitimate income sources and are indicative of the placement of proceeds of crime,” it added.Additionally, the investigation found that both Bhuyan and his wife maintained 10 life insurance policies across various companies despite having negative savings of over Rs 1.84 crore during the check period. The authorities believe that the premium for these policies were paid using illicit funds as part of money laundering processes, including layering and integration.
