The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached immovable assets worth more than Rs 5.6 crore in connection with a money laundering investigation involving former Assam Excise Department secretary and IAS officer Indreswar Kalita.The central agency said the action was taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation is linked to a disproportionate assets case registered earlier against Kalita.According to the ED, the case is based on a First Information Report filed by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (CMSVC). The vigilance probe had alleged that Kalita accumulated assets far beyond his known sources of income during his tenure in government service.Investigators examined the period between March 1, 2000 and December 31, 2018. During this period, Kalita allegedly acquired assets that were significantly higher than his declared income.
The chargesheet filed by the vigilance authorities stated that Kalita possessed assets valued at around ₹5.64 crore which were disproportionate to his known income. The amount was estimated to be about 131.12 per cent more than his legitimate earnings during the check period.As part of the money laundering investigation, the ED issued a provisional attachment order to seize six immovable properties connected with the case. Among these properties is a piece of land and related assets located on Zoo Road in Guwahati. The property is valued at about ₹5.64 crore, according to the agency.Officials said the investigation found that several immovable properties were purchased either in Kalita’s name or in the names of his wife and other family members. The ED alleged that these assets were acquired without sufficient legitimate income to justify the purchases.
The agency also claimed that some of the property transactions were structured in a way that concealed the real source of funds and the actual ownership. According to investigators, certain properties were registered in official documents at amounts lower than their actual market value.Officials believe that this was done to hide the real amount of money used in the transactions and to obscure the trail of funds.The ED said the attachment of the properties was part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged money laundering activities linked to the disproportionate assets case. Further investigation in the matter is continuing.