This Article is From Oct 12, 2016

Union Minister VK Singh's Aide Questioned In Money Laundering Case

Union Minister VK Singh's Aide Questioned In Money Laundering Case

Enforcement Directorate questioned VK Singh's close aide in a money laundering case. (File)

New Delhi: A close aide of Minister of State for External Affairs and former Army Chief VK Singh was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate today in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation into supply of high-altitude tents worth Rs 22 crore to intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing.

The minister's aide, Shambu Prasad Singh allegedly took a loan of Rs 30 crores from a bank to execute the order, but later defaulted on the loan. Subsequently the Enforcement Directorate registered a case against him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation - which is also conducting a separate probe into the matter - registered a case against Sai Baba Builders and Consultants, and its three directors Shyam Sundar Bhatter, JPN Singh and Shambu Prasad Singh's wife Manjari.

"It has been alleged that wrongful favour was shown by the officials of the Special Frontier Force (SFF) and Cabinet Secretariat in the matter of the preparation of tender, procurement, supply and installation of the pre-fabricated shelters for SFF troops during 2009-13 which were wrongly purchased," the CBI had said earlier.

The Enforcement Directorate probe meanwhile focused on the money trail in the case and is trying to establish the "proceeds of crime".

Action by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate came after the agencies received a reference in this regard from the Prime Minister's Office.

Earlier, RAW had carried out an internal probe in the matter in which it had found proof or irregularities. The report was sent to the PMO which had referred it to the CBI for further investigations.
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