The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth approximately ₹9.79 crore belonging to Dr Amarnath Mittal, former Director of Services in the Madhya Pradesh government, and his wife Alka Mittal, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The action has been taken in connection with a disproportionate assets case registered by the Bhopal Lokayukta, which triggered a money laundering probe by the central agency.
According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Lokayukta under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended). The FIR alleged that Dr Mittal had amassed assets far in excess of his known sources of income during the check period.
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Wide gap between income and assets
The probe revealed a significant mismatch between Dr Mittal’s declared income and the assets acquired by him during the relevant period. The ED stated that his total lawful income during the check period was approximately ₹60 lakh, while the value of assets acquired and expenditure incurred stood at nearly ₹2.98 crore.
This resulted in disproportionate assets of around ₹2.33 crore, which could not be satisfactorily explained through legitimate income sources.
Investigators further found that Dr Mittal had acquired several assets not only in his own name but also in the names of his wife Alka Mittal and A.N. Mittal (HUF). According to the ED, this pattern points to a deliberate attempt to conceal beneficial ownership and camouflage proceeds of crime as legitimate assets.
Use of cash and layered financial transactions
The ED said its investigation uncovered the extensive use of unaccounted cash, unexplained bank deposits and multi-layered financial transactions for the acquisition of properties and other assets. Several personal and household expenses incurred by the accused were also found to be unsupported by verifiable income sources.
Officials stated that the accused allegedly mixed proceeds of crime with limited legitimate income earned by himself and his wife in an effort to project illicit funds as lawful earnings — a method commonly associated with money laundering.
Reinvestment of proceeds through sale of old properties
The probe also revealed that A.N. Mittal had sold certain properties that were acquired prior to the registration of the FIR in 2012. The proceeds from these sales were subsequently reinvested in the purchase of additional movable and immovable assets.
The ED said that even after the FIR was registered, funds generated from the sale of earlier properties were used to acquire new assets, indicating a systematic attempt to launder and legitimise the proceeds of crime through reinvestment and financial manipulation.
Details of assets attached
Based on the findings, the ED issued a provisional attachment order under the PMLA, attaching assets valued at ₹9.79 crore.
The attached properties include:
- Long-term capital gain bonds
- Residential properties located in Bhopal and Raisen districts
- Agricultural land
The agency clarified that the attachment is interim in nature and subject to confirmation by the adjudicating authority under the PMLA.
Further probe underway
ED officials said that the investigation into the money trail, fund layering and asset acquisition pattern is still ongoing. If additional properties or undisclosed assets linked to the proceeds of crime are identified during the course of the probe, further attachment and legal action may follow.
The agency reiterated that the case highlights the use of complex financial structuring and benami-style arrangements to conceal illicit wealth, and that all aspects of the alleged laundering network are being examined.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
