ED, Guwahati Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties valued at approximately Rs. 3.07 Crore (immovable properties comprise five properties valued at Rs. 2.42 Crore and movable properties include LIC policies totalling Rs. 65 Lakh) belonging to Md. Chamed Ali, the then Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (Roads), Government of Assam, and his family members, under PMLA, 2002 in the matter related to disproportionate assets acquired by him.
Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties valued at approximately Rs. 3.07 Crore belonging to Md. Chamed Ali, former Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (Roads), Government of Assam, and his family members, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
ED initiated investigation based on an FIR bearing Vigilance PS Case No. 09/2023 dated 08.12.2023 registered by the CM Special Vigilance Cell, Assam Police, against Md. Chamed Ali under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The CM Special Vigilance Cell had filed Charge Sheet No. 4 of 2024 dated 06.03.2024 before the Court of Special Judge, Assam, Guwahati-I.
Investigation by the CM Special Vigilance Cell revealed that Md. Chamed Ali, during his service period from 01.01.2000 to 28.02.2021 as Assistant Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer, and Executive Engineer in various divisions of the PWD (Roads), Government of Assam, possessed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 3.07 Crore, which constituted 152.96% of his known sources of income. The accused, who had a total known income of Rs. 2.01 Crore during the check period, incurred expenditure of Rs. 4.27 Crore, resulting in negative lively savings of Rs.
2.26 Crore, resulting in disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 3.07 Crore, for which he could not provide any satisfactory explanation.
ED investigation revealed that the accused systematically laundered the Proceeds of Crime through a sophisticated three-stage process. In the placement stage, cash proceeds totaling Rs.
92.3 Lakh were introduced into the banking system through a benami account operated in the name of an illiterate woman running a small grocery shop, and through unexplained cash deposits in family members’ accounts. The bank accounts of the illiterate woman also had deposits of Rs. 41.3 Lakh from PWD contractors related to Md. Chamed Ali.
Investigation further revealed that in the layering stage, these proceeds were routed through family conduits to obscure the audit trail. Md. Chamed Ali’s wife received Rs. 28.16 Lakh from his brother-in-law who is also a PWD contractor, as purported “gifts” which were never repaid, Rs. 17.3 Lakh from R.K. Industries (owned by a relative who is also a PWD contractor), and Rs.
4.15 Lakh transferred from the illiterate woman’s account.
In the integration stage, the layered proceeds were systematically converted into high-value real estate through a three-tier ownership structure designed to conceal beneficial ownership. Properties were acquired directly in Md. Chamed Ali’s name, in his wife’s name, and in his brother-in-law’s name with an Irrevocable Power of Attorney executed in favor of him.
The immovable properties which have been provisionally attached comprise five properties valued at Rs. 2.42 Crore. The movable properties include LIC policies totalling Rs. 65 Lakh, making the total value attached at Rs. 3.07 Crore.
Further investigation is under progress.
