Lucknow – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily seized bank deposits worth ₹60 lakh as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation against former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati and his family.
According to the ED, the seized amount was held in Balaji Corporation Pvt. Ltd.’s bank account, reportedly received as an apartment booking payment for a real estate project in Wadala, Mumbai, named “Vertu.” The central agency ordered the attachment of this sum under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), specifically targeting the credit balance of Anil Kumar Prajapati, son of the former minister.
Illicit Wealth and Fake Transactions
The ED alleges that Gayatri Prajapati, during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh’s mining minister, abused his position to amass assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. These assets were reportedly acquired in the names of his family members, close associates, and business partners.
Investigators claim that illegal proceeds were funneled through fictitious transactions and shell companies, effectively laundering money accumulated during his tenure in government. Additionally, authorities suspect that Prajapati deposited large sums of illicit earnings into the bank accounts of family members.
ED’s Ongoing Investigation
The ED has already seized assets worth over ₹50 crore in connection with this case. The probe is based on an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Department, which initially flagged concerns over financial irregularities linked to Prajapati’s tenure in office.
While the former minister and his family have not issued an official response, legal proceedings are expected to continue as authorities dig deeper into the financial dealings of Prajapati and his associates.
