The Patna zonal office of the Directorate of Enforcement has provisionally attached an agricultural land parcel worth ₹17.35 lakh in connection with a money-laundering probe against Sadre Alam, former Chief General Manager and Regional Officer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Officials said the attached land, registered in Alam’s name, represents the remaining value of the alleged proceeds of crime that had not been seized earlier. The action has been taken under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and remains provisional, subject to confirmation by the adjudicating authority.
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The case originates from an FIR registered by the ACB unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation in Patna, accusing Alam of acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income while holding public office.
Investigators estimate that assets worth around ₹89.09 lakh were accumulated between July 2021 and September 2022.
According to ED officials, their probe uncovered a complex money trail used to legitimise illicit income. Large cash deposits were first made into bank accounts linked to Alam and subsequently routed through multiple layers of transfers, a method commonly employed to obscure the origin and ownership of funds.
During earlier searches conducted by the CBI, ₹71.01 lakh in cash and jewellery was recovered from Alam’s residential premises. Authorities said he failed to furnish any credible explanation or documentary evidence regarding the source of the money.
With the bulk of the suspected proceeds already secured, the ED has now moved to attach the remaining value — ₹17.35 lakh — in the form of agricultural land.
“The total proceeds of crime in this case stand at ₹89.09 lakh. Since ₹71.01 lakh has already been seized, the balance amount has been safeguarded through attachment of immovable property,” a senior official said, adding that efforts are underway to trace any additional assets.
The agency has also flagged unexplained financial inflows, incomplete disclosures and suspicious transaction patterns across accounts linked to Alam, pointing to deliberate attempts to conceal ownership and movement of funds. Investigators are now examining beneficiary accounts and related financial links to determine whether further properties or investments were acquired using tainted money.
Sources said banking channels are being analysed for transaction patterns, while property records are undergoing cross-verification. More attachments have not been ruled out if fresh assets connected to the alleged proceeds of crime come to light.
The case adds to a growing list of enforcement actions involving senior officials accused of leveraging public office for personal gain. ED officials stressed that the probe extends beyond asset attachment and includes identifying possible facilitators and mapping the wider financial network, if any.
The agency confirmed that further investigation is in progress, and additional legal action will follow based on emerging evidence.
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.
