Chandigarh unit of ED detains real estate group MD at IGI Airport

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 12

A team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials from Chandigarh has detained the chairman and managing director of the real estate group, IREO, at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here in connection with a money laundering probe against him.

Officials concerned said today that Goyal was stopped by the immigration authorities at the airport yesterday on the basis of a lookout circular, which was issued by the ED sometime back. Goyal was supposed to take a flight to the US when his name was flagged, they added.

The officials said Goyal was questioned at the airport and detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the investigators of the Chandigarh unit of the ED.

The businessman is being probed in relation with a money laundering case linked to the alleged diversion of estimated $ 77 million of home buyers’ funds, investments and shareholdings to some offshore entities, the officials said, adding that his name also figured in the ‘Pandora Papers’ global leak of offshore funds.

Goyal and his legal team had, however, earlier denied any illegalities on their part and said no funds were diverted abroad in violation of laws.