In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken decisive action in a case involving the illegal supply of liquor in the state of Bihar. The ED has provisionally attached immovable assets totaling Rs. 9.31 Crore, pointing to the intricate money laundering scheme orchestrated by individuals associated with M/s Kala Amb Distillery and Brewery Pvt. Ltd.
“The attached assets include a valuable industrial plot with a factory & building worth Rs. 5.31 Crore situated in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, registered under the name of Dorjee Phuntso Khrime. Additionally, a land measuring 22504 sq. mtr. with a factory and building valued at Rs. 4 Crore in Holongi Village, Arunachal Pradesh, has also been provisionally attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)”.
The ED’s investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs and chargesheets filed by the Bihar Police against M/s Sunil Bhardwaj and others for their involvement in the illegal supply of liquor. Sunil Bhardwaj, the proprietor of M/s Kala AMB Brewery and Distillery Pvt Ltd in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, was found to be colluding with Dorjee Phuntso Khrime from Arunachal Pradesh in establishing various entities. These entities were allegedly utilized to obtain licenses for setting up distillery units and running liquor shops in Arunachal Pradesh.
The ED’s probe uncovered a complex network of entities associated with Sunil Bhardwaj and Dorjee Phuntso Khrime, purportedly engaged in the liquor business. Shockingly, the liquor manufactured and bottled by M/s Kala Amb Distillery & Brewery Pvt. Ltd. for Arunachal Pradesh was illicitly redirected to Bihar at the direction of the accused individuals.
“Furthermore, it was revealed that the duo used their network of associated entities to open multiple bank accounts, facilitating the receipt of funds from the sale of illegally supplied liquor in Bihar. This intricate financial web was exploited to generate proceeds of crime, with Rs. 9.31 Crore traced to cash deposits in Bihar’s bank accounts linked to companies/entities owned by Sunil Bhardwaj and Dorjee Phuntso Khrime”.
The investigation indicates that these funds were generated through the commission of scheduled offenses related to the illegal liquor trade. The provisional attachment of assets by the ED underscores the severity of the alleged money laundering scheme, emphasizing the need for stringent action to curb such illicit activities and preserve the integrity of the financial system.
