ED seizes property of ARTO Santosh, Clerk Rekha:Assets 6 and a half times their income found; multiple houses and plots in Jabalpur confiscated

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Bhopal has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 3.38 crore belonging to Santosh Paul, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) in the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department, and Rekha Paul, Senior Clerk. They have amassed assets approximately six and a half times more than their earnings. ED initiated this action after investigation based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Bhopal against Santosh Paul and Rekha Paul under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The property attachment has been done under the provisions of PMLA 2002. They were accused of acquiring assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. ED’s investigation revealed that these public servants had acquired significantly more movable and immovable assets than their legitimate income during the investigation period. Income 73.26 Lakh, Earned 4.80 Crore ED investigation revealed that Santosh Paul and Rekha Paul, with a verified legitimate income of Rs 73.26 lakh, acquired and spent assets worth approximately Rs 4.80 crore, resulting in disproportionate assets of approximately Rs 4.06 crore. The investigation found repeated, systematic cash deposits in their bank accounts just before EMI payments for loans, revealing that they had introduced unaccounted cash into the banking system. Jabalpur house, plot seized The properties seized by the ED from both accused include residential houses, residential plots, agricultural land, and commercial shops located in Jabalpur district, which have been provisionally attached as proceeds of crime. EOW had taken action three years ago, these properties were found EOW had raided Santosh Pal’s residence three years ago in August 2022. In this investigation, Rs 16 lakh in cash was found with the RTO of Jabalpur. Pal had even built his private theater at home. Red seats, which came to light, were installed in the theater from illicit earnings. During the investigation, several houses, vehicles, and documents belonging to RTO Santosh Pal Singh were found.