New Delhi. Enforcement Directorate, Kolkata has provisionally attached movable assets worth Rs 3.30 Crore and immovable assets with value of over Rs 3 Crore in its ongoing investigation into the matter of Saradha Group of Companies under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. These properties were owned by Saradha Group and other persons, who were beneficiaries of Proceeds of Crime generated by Saradha Group of Companies. The beneficiaries include Smt. Nalini Chidambaram (wife of Ex Finance Minister P. Chidambaram), Debabrata Sarkar, Debendranath Biswas (Ex IPS and ex MLA CPM) and M/s Anubhuti Printers and Publications owned by Late Shri Anjan Dutta, ex Minister in Assam.
Saradha Group ran a chit fund scam with operations spread over the states of West Bengal, Assam and Orissa, till 2013. The quantum of total money mobilized by this group company is about Rs. 2459 Crore out of which nearly Rs 1983 Crore remains unpaid to the depositors till date excluding the interest amount.
ED had registered case against Saradha Group of Companies in 2013 on the basis of FIRs by Kolkata Police and CBI. In the past, prior to issue of this attachment order, ED Kolkata had issued eight Provisional Attachment Orders attaching assets/properties (value of more than Rs. 600 crores).