NEW DELHI: An alleged scam involving the creation of six fake government offices in Gujarat’s Dahod district has come to light, with the accused allegedly impersonating government officials, forging official seals and signatures and using fabricated documents to secure public funds.
The offices were purportedly set up in the name of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. According to an Enforcement Directorate investigation, the accused, allegedly in collusion with government officials, secured approval for 121 fictitious works and fraudulently obtained government grants.
The agency said the funds were then routed through a complex network of bank accounts before being laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in shares and mutual funds.
After tracing the money trail, the ED on Monday attached assets worth Rs 22.70 crore allegedly linked to the main accused, Abubakar Jakirali Saiyad, his family members and associates.
The attached assets include seven parcels of land, investments in mutual funds and balances held in various bank accounts, the agency said.
According to the ED, funds released by government departments were initially deposited into nine bank accounts opened in the names of the purported government offices. The money was then transferred to 18 intermediary accounts before being routed to 118 other accounts associated with individuals and entities allegedly connected to the accused.
The investigation is focused on how the fictitious offices and projects were created and how government funds were diverted through the network of accounts before being converted into assets and financial investments.
