Shimla: Anti- Money Laundering Cell (AML-Cell) of the Himachal Pradesh have booked 20 accused persons, who allegedly amassed properties worth Rs 3 Crores under in ill-gotten proceeds of crime through illegal mining in the Una district and cases have been forwarded to Enforcement Directorate for further investigation, said the police here today.
The police said acting on the leads the AML cell have investigated the properties of 20 accused worth Rs 3 crore and found these prima facie as illgotten proceeds of crime. The HP police have shared and forwarded the case to Enforcement Directorate for further investigation under Anti Money Laundering Act, which is investigation agencies in all case of money laundering, said a senior police official.
The proceeds of crimes established by the police is being viewed as a tip of iceberg as the illegal mining business is booming in khads, riversides and streams and it allegedly run into several crores as the mining mafias enjoy political protection, revealed police sources.
The HP police spokesperson said the similar action is under process in other major cases of illegal mining in the state.
HP police have constituted the AML cell under the chairpersonship of DGP to combat organized crimes effectively. The cell has shared information of major organized crimes that fall PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) with the Enforcement Directorate, Government of India.
Himachal Pradesh Police have also been targeting major mining mafia and dismantling their networks. The police investigated three cases under the Mines & Minerals Act from district Una and found criminal nexus of the accused. The police dismembered the cases and forwarded these to the Enforcement Directorate, said the spokesperson.
