Gautam Khaitan, notorious lawyer, who runs web of shell companies is now in custody of Enforcement Directorate for 6 days. Khaitan is also accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case, was arrested on January 25 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED told the court that they have got hold of two more accounts of Khaitan and they are talking of another Rs 50 crores that were illegally laundered by Khaitan’s various firms that have been established in Africa. ED also mentioned that he is also involved in an Israeli defence deal. The agency also clarified that what they are probing is different from the AgustaWestland case and that this is an international money laundering syndicate in which Khaitan has played an important role.
Khaitan had been allegedly laundering money and setting up shell companies not only for Indian politicians but also for the head of states of African countries. One example that was given was that of Zambia’s political family, the Bandas, in which Khaitan helped Henry Banda to acquire a farmhouse in Kenya by setting up a trust fund
