ED freezes Kanishk Gold properties worth Rs 48 cr

Chennai, April 24 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it has frozen Rs 48 crore worth of properties belonging to Kanishk Gold Pvt Ltd under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

In a statement issued here, ED said the action came on the reasonable belief that the land, buildings, plant and machinery, valued at Rs 48 crore, available at the company's factory premies are related to the crime.

The jewellery company is alleged to have indulged in offences of forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy against banking consortium led by State Bank of India (SBI).

The SBI has loged a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation and an FIR has been lodged.

It is alleged that Kanishk Gold secured credit facilities from banks after providing fudged stock statements with the help of chartered accountants.

The total loss caused to the banks due to the above fraud works out to the tune of Rs 824 crore, outstanding as on December 31, 2017, the ED said.

"During Investigations under PMLA, 2002 falsification of records was admitted and it was stated that the stock gap between the actual and reported to banks has risen to 3,000 kg of gold by 2017," the statement said.