PMLA Court summons Gayatri Prajapati in money laundering case

Aanchal Agarwal

Published on: September 7, 2021, at 16:08 IST

A special PMLA Court has issued summons to former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Gayatri Prajapati in connection to a money laundering case.

Prajapati has been allegedly in possession of disproportionate assets acquired from the proceeds of crime. He has been regarded as the ultimate beneficiary of the same assets.

Sessions Judge Sarvesh Kumar of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court on money had asked the accused to dispose of these assets before 4th October.

The complaint against Prajapati was filed by the Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under various Sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in April.

The ED had been probing the Minister and carrying on with its investigation of the case for quite some time and also filed a charge sheet later on.

The Court observed that “There are specific allegations against accused Gayatri Prasad Prajapati that he has expended Rs 29825511 more against his income from known and legal sources which is exponentially disproportionate while he was working as public servant”.

In addition to the properties, there were several cash deposits made to various bank accounts of his family members under his name.

The Court also noted that in a few companies in which his family members were directors, he held tight control over the affairs and workings of such companies.

The charges placed on the accused under the PLMA act are based on allegations and materials on record which have been presented by the ED.

Before even this case was registered, he was already being probed for a case of illegal mining in Uttar Pradesh.

ED claimed that the accuser’s total income during the time he served as a minister was around Rs 72.38 lakh including his salary which was around Rs 25.40 lakh.

Supreme Court last year issued notice in the plea by the State of Uttar Pradesh against the short-term bail order on medical grounds, granted by Allahabad High Court.

Moreover, all the assets standing in the name of the family members of Prajapati and various companies wherein his sons are/were directors are found to be over Rs 36.94 crore which is several times over and above their total income.