Enforcement Directorate Restores Rs 520 Crore in Assets Linked to Cox & Kings Fraud Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced the restoration of assets worth over Rs 520 crore to a legitimate claimant company. These assets were previously attached under the anti-money laundering law in connection with a bank-loan fraud case. The investigation involved Cox & Kings Limited (CKL), its promoters, and others, with the total proceeds of crime estimated at Rs 4,100 crore.

The ED's investigation revealed that Rs 1,066 crore from these proceeds was diverted to V Hotels Limited. Of this amount, Rs 520.8 crore remained unpaid and was seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. V Hotels later entered insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), with Macrotech Developers Limited emerging as the successful resolution applicant (SRA).

Restitution Process Initiated

The PMLA includes a provision for restoring assets to defrauded entities. In this case, the ED and SRA collaborated to initiate this process. The SRA deposited Rs 520.8 crore in an interest-bearing fixed deposit with the State Bank of India (SBI), representing the substituted value of the attached properties.

The ED agreed to restore the attached assets worth Rs 520.8 crore, provided that the SRA had no ties with the previous management or beneficiaries of the alleged crime proceeds. The Supreme Court recently ordered the return of this deposit, along with accumulated interest, to the SRA under section 88 of the PMLA.

Supreme Court's Acknowledgment

The Supreme Court acknowledged and appreciated the efforts made by Enforcement Directorate officers in restoring these assets to ensure justice. This decision underscores the importance of safeguarding legitimate claimants' rights while addressing financial crimes.

This case highlights how legal frameworks like PMLA and IBC can work together to resolve complex financial fraud cases. By ensuring restitution, authorities aim to protect stakeholders' interests and uphold justice in financial matters.

With inputs from PTI