ED attaches assets of accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena in VVIP chopper scandal

The ED on Friday said that assets belonging to Saxena have been attached under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in Agusta Westland Chopper scandal and Moser Baer Bank Fraud case allegedly involving Ratul Puri, nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 385.44 crores belonging to Rajiv Saxena, accused-turned-approver in the VVIP chopper scandal.

The ED on Friday said that assets belonging to Saxena have been attached under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in Agusta Westland Chopper scandal and Moser Baer Bank Fraud case allegedly involving Ratul Puri, nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

The attached assets include a villa in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai worth 20 million AED and balances in five Swiss bank accounts amounting to USD 45.55 million of Rajiv Saxena.

ED has alleged that its investigation has revealed that Saxena is a Hawala operator and accommodation entry provider who runs the accommodation entry business in Dubai through numerous companies known as Matrix Group companies and has laundered proceeds of crime in the cases of Agusta Westland Chopper scam and Moser Baer Bank Fraud case.

“Rajiv Saxena created structures for laundering proceeds of crime generated by accused of both cases either for the kickbacks in Agusta Westland case or defrauding banks by misutilising the loans given to Moser Baer India Ltd and its subsidiaries. Rajiv Saxena manages the proceeds of crime and tainted funds of many High profile and High Net worth individuals” ED said in a statement.

ED has further said that Letter of request were sent to Swiss Confederation seeking to restrain Saxena’s Swiss bank accounts and ensure that Saxena did not shift/transfer/dispose-off the suspected proceeds of crime, by continuing the criminal seizure of the assets in his bank accounts maintained in the Switzerland.

“Rajiv Saxena has admitted to laundering the proceeds of crime not only of Agusta Westland deal but also various other defence deals. The proceeds of crime have also been transferred to the personal accounts of Rajiv Saxena and his wife Shivani Saxena (also an accused in Agusta Westland case)”, ED said.

The agency has further claimed that Rajiv Saxena parked proceeds of crime allegedly generated by Ratul Puri, nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, were parked with Rajiv Saxena.

“In Moser Baer Bank Fraud case, Proceeds of crime belonging to Deepak Puri (father of Ratul Puri) amounting to USD 16.33 million have also been attached in the hands of Rajiv Saxena. The accounts of Moser Baer India Ltd. was classified as a Non-Performing Asset in the year 2014. Investigation in the case has revealed that the proceeds of crime generated by Deepak Puri out of bank fraud were received and kept by Rajiv Saxena till 2018 through accounts maintained for Deepak Puri and also equity has been transferred from an undisclosed entity based in Bahamas”, ED said.

It added “from the analysis of digital evidences and accounts of Puri family maintained by Rajiv Saxena, it revealed that the amount of USD 16.33 million is proceeds of crime in the hands of Rajiv Saxena belonging to Deepak Puri and is parked in the accounts of companies of Matrix Group. Similarly, Proceeds of crime belonging to Ratul Puri and transferred to Rajiv Saxena from an undisclosed foreign entity have also been attached in the hands of Rajiv Saxena”.