PUNE, 11 NOV. In a major escalation against organized crime in the city, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to initiate an investigation into the illegal and disproportionate assets accumulated by notorious Pune gangster Nilesh Ghaywal.
This decisive action comes after the local police, through their specialized crime branch units, compiled a detailed dossier on Ghaywal's criminal activities and his vast network of illegally acquired wealth. The case involves an inquiry under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which allows the ED to attach and confiscate properties linked to the proceeds of crime.
The ED's involvement signifies a shift in strategy, aiming to cripple Ghaywal's entire criminal operation by targeting its financial foundation. The investigation is expected to delve into the source of funds used to acquire various properties, land, and businesses believed to be held in his name or the names of his associates and family members. This move follows a national trend where central agencies like the ED are increasingly used to dismantle criminal empires by seizing assets that were generated through extortion, land grabbing, and other illegal means, thereby making criminal activity financially unviable.
The thorough financial investigation is anticipated to uncover the full extent of Ghaywal's wealth, leading to the attachment of properties that are disproportionate to his known legal sources of income.
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