The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) carried out a search operation on Wallet/User ID in Binance Crypto Exchange in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and as a result, 150.22 Bitcoins, equivalent to USD 24,86,693.73 (Rs 22.82 Crore) were frozen in connection with an investigation being carried out relating to the Mobile Gaming Application, namely E-nuggets.
The complaint made by Federal Bank officials in the court of Learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Calcutta, served as the basis for the FIR dated 15.02.2021 filed by Park Street Police Station, Kolkata Police, under various IPC sections against Aamir Khan & others.
E-Nuggets is a mobile gaming app that was released by Aamir Khan, the son of Nesar Ahmed Khan, to defraud users. Furthermore, the withdrawal from the aforementioned App was abruptly stopped on some pretext after receiving a sizable donation from the public. Then, all information—including profile information—was removed from the aforementioned App servers.
The inquiry found that more than 300 different accounts were utilised to launder the money. Cryptocurrencies were also bought using the proceeds.
Aamir Khan’s home was previously raided during an inquiry into him and his friends and cash valued at Rs 17.32 billion was discovered there. When 85.91870554 Bitcoins worth USD 16,74,255.7 (about Rs 13.56 Cr at the time, based on market exchange rates) were discovered in balance on the Binance Exchange, they were frozen. Cryptocurrencies worth Rs 47.64 lakhs (in WRX (WazirX’s utility token) and USDT) were locked in WazirX accounts. The 5.47 crore rupees discovered in Aamir Khan and his accomplice’s bank account have been blocked. The home property of Roman Agarwal had cash worth Rs. 1.65 crore and 44.5 bitcoins, which had a value of Rs. 7.12 crore at the time, confiscated and blocked.
Roman Agarwal, who is actively involved in cross-border and intra-national transactions involving the transfer of illegally obtained funds from criminals both inside and outside of countries, was detained. Currently, he is in judicial custody.
To far, investigations under the PMLA have resulted in the seizure or freezing of a total of Rs. 68.42 Crore. Further research is now being conducted.
