Kolkata, Jan 13 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen Rs. 64 lakh in Bank accounts and Crypto Currency mainly BTC 1.46 (equivalent to Rs 57 lakh as on date), which was lying in crypto wallet in the Binance Crypto Exchange in the case of TM Traders and KK Traders in the city.
ED sources said on Friday that “The freezing happened after the ED on Thursday conducted searches under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The federal agency initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Kolkata Police under various sections of IPC, 1860 against M/s TM Traders and M/s KK Traders.
“As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI), TP Global FX is neither registered with RBI nor does it have any authorisation from RBI for forex trading.
The RBI has also issued an Alert List including the name of TP Global FX vide press release dated 07.09.2022, which was published to caution the general public against unauthorised trading platforms,” the ED said.
The ED’s investigation revealed that Prasenjit Das, Shailesh Kumar Pandey, Tushar Patel and other persons through various dummy companies/firms/entities, allegedly defrauded the public under the guise of making investments in forex trading by using the platform/website of TP Global FX.
These funds were subsequently used in purchase of movable/immovable properties for personal gains/benefits of accused persons.
The members/user of IX global use the brokerage services of TP Global FX to do their forex trading. IX Global got the Proceed of crime in promoting TP Global FX and is promoted by Viraj Suhas Patil and Joseph Martinez.
Earlier, the ED had arrested Shailesh Kumar Pandey, Prasenjit Das and Viraj Suhas Patil, who are presently under Judicial Custody in the Alipore Jail.
“In this case, Rs 121.16 crore was frozen lying in Bank Accounts u/s 17(1A) of PMLA, Properties worth Rs 121.23 crore in the nature of cash, gold, flat, hotel and resorts & vehicles, have been attached, and Prosecution Complaints has been filed against Shailesh Kumar Pandey and Prasenjit Das and Cognizance of the offence of money laundering has been taken by Special Court (PMLA).” the probe agency said.
