In an unprecedented move , Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Thursday raided its own Assistant Director Sandeep Singh who was allegedly caught taking bribe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from a Mumbai based jeweler for giving him relief in an ED case against him.

ED along with raiding Sandeep Singh’s office and home, has also registered Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against him. According to a statement by the Central Agency, “ED registered case under PMLA against Sandeep Singh, Assistant Director, ED and conducted search operations at his house under PMLA,2002. A joint search operation was conducted at his office by ED and CBI. The action was in consequence of FIR and arrest of Sandeep Singh by CBI”

ED also said, “On August 7^th 2024, at 11:30 PM, Sandeep Singh, Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement was trapped by CBI Mumbai in New Delhi along with Rs 20 Lakh cash which he had allegedly extorted from an individual under investigation by ED to give favour in an ED case. Taking immediate cognizance of this incident and following the policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, ED has initiated criminal action against Sandeep Singh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. ECIR is registered against him and a Search operation is conducted at his residence on August 8^th 2024 under the provisions of PMLA by ED so as to gather evidences of his criminal activities. His office was jointly searched on 08-08-2024 by CBI and ED to collect evidences related to the offence. In addition to PMLA case, action has also been initiated to place him under immediate suspension and for his repatriation to his parent department from ED”

“On verification of facts which led to the arrest of Sandeep Singh, it is found that ED was conducting a money laundering investigation against certain entities based on multiple FIRs of Delhi, Uttrakhand, Bangalore Police FIRs. In this case search action was conducted and completed on August 4^th 2024. During the course of this action, Sandeep Singh, Assistant Director, ED acting as the Search Warrant Authorized Officer had conducted the search at the residential premises in Mumbai of an individual under investigation. Vipul Thakkar is the owner of M/s V S Gold, an entity which was suspected to be part of money laundering. The search was uneventful and conducted as per the due procedure. Sandeep Singh is not the investigating officer of this ECIR. He was requisitioned for the limited purpose of conducting the search at the target premises. However, Sandeep Singh represented himself as investigating officer and allegedly accepted the bribe for favouring the accused though he was no way connected with the case being investigated” said ED

Ed Enforcement Directorate Directorate Of Enforcement Cbi Central Bureau Of Investigation Bribe Corruption V S Gold Vipul Thakkar Zero Tolerance