NEW DELHI/PANAJI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources have alleged that more than Rs 20 crore in cash, which could be as high as Rs 35 crore were transferred to Goa via hawala channels during the 2022 Assembly polls.
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) entered Goa about eight months prior to the 2022 Assembly polls, around August 2021 and began poaching on Congress, MGP (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party) and BJP leaders.
There were rumours flying all over Goa, that senior party leaders from the Congress, MGP and BJP with track records of winning polls were offered huge amounts in cash to join the TMC.
In fact, not one, but at least three MLAs from South Goa who joined the TMC in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls had confided to this reporter (who was in Goa during that time) that they were each promised Rs 5 crore as election expenses. Two others said they were promised Rs 10 crore each, 50 percent of which was to be paid in cash.
The TMC “purchased” huge advertising space in a local Goan newspaper, litterally buying up the editorial as well, put up thousands of huge hoardings and spent heavily on volunteers or karyakartas. More than two thousand I-PAC and TMC workers from Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal were sent to Goa six months in advance to campaign for the party and build up constituency-wise groups. They were provided food, accomodation, transport, office and other facilities for six months at the cost of the party.
According to an NDTV report, the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) ongoing investigation into an alleged coal smuggling syndicate has brought to light a possible connection with election-related activities in Goa. According to officials, raids conducted at premises linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) are part of a probe into the alleged use of proceeds of crime (POC) during the 2021-22 Goa Assembly elections.
The ED is also said to be looking into POC made to star hotels in Goa, advertising agencies, newspapers (in the form of advertisements) and media houses to sing the praises of the party, as it launched in Goa.
ALSO READ: Goa: ED Probing Cash Payments Made By TMC, I-PAC During 2022 Polls
Investigators claim that funds generated through the coal smuggling operation, allegedly led by Anup Majee, were diverted using both domestic and international hawala channels. One hawala operator, identified as R Kantilal from Kolkata, is alleged to have facilitated the transfer of around Rs 20 crore to Goa via hawala during the period. The link reportedly emerged from WhatsApp chats recovered from an accountant associated with the coal syndicate.
The ED has traced money transfers from Kolkata to a person named Akshay Kumar, who, in his statement, claimed to be associated with the firms M/s Hertz and Pixelz. He reportedly told investigators that these companies worked with I-PAC during the Goa elections, providing various services to the I-PAC.
Further, the ED alleges that cash was routed via hawala to ASM Event and Tech Pvt Ltd, an event management firm engaged during the election period. The ED also claims that I-PAC director Pratik Jain handled operations in Goa and facilitated the transfer of funds for election-related activities.
In fact, while Prashant Kishore (then with the I-PAC) was the face of the I-PAC in Goa during 2021 and January 2022 and met ex-MLAs and sitting MLAs and other senior leaders to convince them to switch over to the TMC, it was Pratik Jain who made the local money decisions and payments.
He looked after the entire Goa operation and all payments were handled by him. Kishore was the face of the I-PAC while Jain was the real brain behind the Goa operations. The entire team, comprising of hired outstation workers as well as Goan volunteers, seduced by monetary profit reported to Jain during the period.
Payments to all vendors providing ground transportation, accommodation and food facilities for outstation workers, payments to local media persons, payments to printing and hoarding operators were handled by Pratik Jain who was the de facto boss in Goa during the 2021-22 period.
According to media reports, the recent ED searches at the office of the I-PAC and the residence of Jain, were carried out as part of an investigation in a money laundering case registered in 2020 against businessman Anup Majee, who is facing charges of coal smuggling.
As per the ED, a coal smuggling syndicate led by Majee used to steal and illegally excavate coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal and then sell it at various factories/plants in West Bengal. The ED has alleged that a large part of this coal was sold to the Shakambhari Group of companies.
The probe against Majee exposed links with hawala operators as well. Among them, one hawala operator linked to layering of proceeds of crime of coal smuggling is alleged to have facilitated transactions of tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC, the ED has alleged.
Investigations by the ED are ongoing. We will update this story as more inputs are available. Read more here.
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