Despite having substantial material to initiate action against Kripashankar Singh, former Mumbai Congress president accused of amassing massive benami properties, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not yet started any investigation against him. The Mumbai Police have already registered an FIR (First Information Report) against him under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that are part of the scheduled offences listed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
“Such sections [under the IPC] in the FIR that are listed as scheduled offences under the PMLA are enough to initiate action against him. Either the Mumbai Police should have sent a copy of the FIR or the ED should have sought a copy. That is the first step. But none of it has happened yet,” a highly placed official in the ED told The Hindu on Thursday.
Charges
The police have booked Mr. Kripashankar and his family members under various sections of the IPC including sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), etc. They have also been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Bombay High Court had recently directed the Mumbai Police to prosecute the politician under the Prevention of Corruption Act and attach his and his family members' benami properties running into crores of rupees.
Informed sources said the reports about ED action against the politician were merely speculative in nature. But officials did not deny the possibility of the agency cracking down on Mr. Kripashankar. “It is likely that action may be initiated under PMLA. But at this rate, it may take quite some time,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax department has decided to review its cases against him in the light of the Bombay High Court's judgment. Informed sources told The Hindu that the Chief Commissioners of Mumbai have been directed to look into the assessment of Mr. Kripashankar and his family members.
“We are not going to start any investigation against him because there are no specific directions for the same in the High Court's orders,” a highly placed official in the Income-Tax department, told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.
Both, the ED and the I-T department, had submitted sealed reports to the Bombay High Court during the proceedings on the Public Interest Litigation plea filed against Mr. Kripashankar. The I-T department had submitted its report in March 2011.
“We are willing to help any department if it approaches us,” an I-T official said.
