FCC

Punjab-Haryana HC slams ED over IREO money laundering investigation

2024-11-21

The Punjab and Haryana High Court criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for conducting a ‘slipshod and unprofessional’ investigation into money laundering cases involving IREO and its functionaries. The court directed the ED's director to address the lapses in the probe.

The court noted that the accused company's real estate assets were allowed to be disposed of without proper oversight. Justice Kuldeep Tiwari issued these directives after being informed of a November 6 order by a coordinate bench, in which Gulshan Babbar sought the cancellation of bail granted to IREO MD Lalit Goyal in cases of money laundering and cheating related to a real estate project.

The High Court instructed the ED director to provide the complete record of the on-going investigation and submit a personal affidavit detailing the reasons for the lapses, along with the proposed actions in case any negligence by officials is identified.

The issue was also highlighted in a PIL filed by Wing Commander (Retd.) Natarajan Monie, who alleged that IREO directors had abandoned the IREO Waterfront project in Ludhiana in 2016 after allegedly diverting and misappropriating approximately Rs 3 billion.