ED Seizes Jewellery Worth ₹1.42 Crore In Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Fraud Case

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Nagpur, conducted search operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on January 8 and 9, at seven commercial and residential premises in Chandrapur and Nagpur linked to Abhishek Vinod kumar Thakur, Rohit Vinod kumar Thakur and their related entities, the financial probe agency said on Friday.

During the searches, valuables including gold, diamond, and platinum jewellery/bullion worth Rs 1.42 crore were seized. Additionally, property documents and incriminating evidence in digital and documentary forms were recovered, ED officials said.

The investigation was initiated based on an FIR registered by the Maharashtra Police in Chandrapur against Abhishek and Rohit Thakur, partners of M/s Wild Connectivity Solutions (WCS), under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR accused them of defrauding the government through financial misconduct, causing losses of Rs 12.15 crore to the forest department.

ED investigation had revealed that WCS was engaged by the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve through a Service Level Agreement dated 10.12.2021, to provide uninterrupted services to visitors, including collecting entry fees, gypsy charges, and guide charges. However, the company's owners, Abhishek Thakur and Rohit Thakur who were the

residents of Chandrapur city violated the terms of the agreement and cheated the Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation to the extent of Rs. 12.15 crore during the years 2020-21 to 2023-24.

During the search proceedings, it was revealed that the directors of WCS had utilised the fraudulently gained amounts for the acquisition of personal properties and for payment of past loans availed in the name of their other entities.