Face2News/Jalandhar

Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, has filed a Prosecution Complaint on Monday before the Hon’ble Special Court for PMLA at Jalandhar, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd, Gautam Malhotra and other related persons, in connection with a money laundering investigation related to environmental crime.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of criminal complaint filed by Punjab Pollution Control Board against M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd and others for violating the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 by injection of untreated wastewater through reverse boring into deep aquifers.

ED investigation revealed that the industrial unit of M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd., located at Village Mansoorwal, Tehsil Zira, District Ferozepur, was involved in the generation and possession of
Proceeds of Crime (POC) by deliberate and wilful pollution of ground water. The unit, through its daily
operations, was engaged in the persistent and covert discharge of untreated industrial effluents into deep aquifers through reverse boring, and by releasing wastewater onto nearby land, drains, and an adjacent sugar mill. M/s Malbros International Pvt Ltd had run their factory operations through criminal activities of continuously causing environment pollution of ground water, nearby water bodies and areas and thus generated and acquired POC to the tune of Rs. 80 Crore during period involved under investigation.

Earlier, searches were conducted at six locations on 16.07.2024 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. A cash of Rs 78.15 Lakh was recovered and seized during Search. Further, immovable properties worth of Rs 79.93 Crore, consisting of land, building and plant & machinery of M/s Malbros International Pvt. Ltd. have been attached in the case vide Provisiona