PMLA adjudicating authority gives nod, ED takes possession of Naxal leader’s attached assets

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 2

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has taken possession of properties worth Rs 16 lakh belonging to the wife of Maoist commander Abhijeet Yadav alias Mahavir Yadav operating in Jharkhand and Bihar after approval from the adjudicating authority under the prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Officials in the agency said, the ED acted as per the law in a money laundering case against Yadav, who has been an active member and sub-zonal commander of the banned CPI (Maoist).

The adjudicating authority for the PMLA had recently approved the attachment of assets action and this enabled the ED to take “possession” of such properties, the officials said, adding that the attached assets include land in Jharkhand’s Palamu district and bank deposits of Rs 16.49 lakh in the name of Yadav’s wife Gita Devi.

The ED had booked Yadav, who is absconding, under the PMLA after studying various state police FIRs registered against him.

Yadav has been charged for the collection of levy, criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and extortion, the ED said.

“The top Maoist leader is stated to be threatening and recovering levy forcibly and illegally from various development works going on in Gaya and Aurangabad districts of Bihar and in neighbouring Jharkhand’s Palamu district,” the agency had said in a statement earlier.

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