Enforcement Directorate Prepares Money Laundering Charges in Jhansi CGST Corruption Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has compiled comprehensive evidentiary records detailing assets connected to three Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) officials implicated in a bribery scheme in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The primary subjects of the investigation are CGST Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari, an Indian Revenue Service officer, and Superintendents Anil Tiwari and Ajay Sharma. Intelligence indicates the agency is conducting a forensic examination of properties registered under the names of relatives and associates of the accused to trace and identify suspected proceeds of crime, a critical step under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This development suggests the preliminary inquiry has yielded sufficient material to advance toward formal charge registration. The case underscores a targeted enforcement action against alleged corruption within the tax administration, reflecting a broader institutional focus on financial malfeasance. The ED's methodology, focusing on asset trails and benami holdings, aligns with standard protocols for establishing the movement and concealment of illicit funds. A formal PMLA case registration would initiate a deeper probe into the financial networks, potentially leading to asset attachments and prosecutions.