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Enforcement Directorate conducts searches on Wadhawan brothers over alleged dealings with Iqbal Mirchi

The searches were carried to investigate loans given to Sunblink Developers, which bought three properties from Iqbal Mirchi worth Rs 225 crore in 2010.

October 19, 2019 / 09:28 PM IST
 
 
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at the offices of DHFL and Dheeraj Realty in Mumbai with regard to their alleged dealings with Iqbal Mirchi.

The searches were carried to investigate loans given to Sunblink Developers, which bought three properties from Iqbal Mirchi worth Rs 225 crore in 2010.

Sunblink is a firm of Dheeraj Realty, whose promoter is the brother of DHFL Chairman and Managing Director Kapil Wadhawan. Sunblink received loans worth Rs 2,186 crore for these properties, which it is yet to repay in full to DHFL.

"Some of the amounts were paid in dummy bank accounts in Chennai and a part of payment happened in Dubai as well which is under investigation," an ED document read.

Kapil Wadhawan was brought to the Enforcement Directorate's premises for further questioning. The ED has also completed the questioning of Dheeraj Wadhawan, from Dheeraj Realty.

The ED has also learned from their investigation that a significant amount of money was flown out from India.

The court has also extended the ED's custody of Ranjit Singh Bindra for four more days and it will be complete on October 23.

As per documents presented in court by the ED and viewed by Moneycontrol, renowned law firm Hariani & Co is under the scanner of the ED. The ED alleged that Ajay Vazirani, who is a partner of Hariani & Co, facilitated payments to Iqbal in Dubai.

At the first instance, Vazirani denied ever meeting with Iqbal Mirchi's family or having facilitated payments for them. He changed his stance after being confronted with Ranjit Singh Bindra, the broker who is in custody of the Directorate. As per the documents, Ajay accepted that he met Iqbal Mirchi's family overseas.

Thereafter, Ajay Vazirani provided the details on payments made by Sunblink to Iqbal Mirchi through some companies/entities in Dubai.

Several texts and calls made to Ajay Vazirani went unanswered.

Sunny Bhatija, Director of Sunblink Developers, in his statement, admitted that all negotiations with Iqbal Mirchi and his friend Hamayun Merchant were conducted by Ranjit Singh Bindra who is in ED custody.

Bindra had charged Rs 30 crore to broker the deal. He is also a relative of Dheeraj Realty promoters the Wadhawans.

The ED on October 18 conducted a 12-hour interrogation with former Maharashtra MP Praful Patel. The Directorate questioned Patel about financial transactions with Iqbal Mirchi's family and his meeting with Iqbal Mirchi in London.

The Directorate learned about a few phone calls made by Patel to Iqbal Mirchi through common friend who is also under probe. Patel might be called for the next round of questioning next week.

Tarun Sharma
first published: Oct 19, 2019 11:59 am

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