The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office, has arrested Priyanshu Boiragi, proprietor of M/s Purbashree Printing House, Guwahati, in connection with a major money laundering case involving alleged diversion of labour welfare funds. The arrest followed search operations conducted on December 18, 2025, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Following his arrest, Boiragi was produced before the Special Court (PMLA), Guwahati, which granted the ED custody for five days to enable further investigation.
Probe Triggered by Vigilance FIR
According to the ED, the investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell Assam under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These offences are listed as scheduled offences under Part A of the Schedule to the PMLA, thereby attracting the provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
The FIR alleges that Priyanshu Boiragi entered into a criminal conspiracy with senior officials of the Assam Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (ABOCWWB), including Chohan Doley, IAS, then Member Secretary, and Gautam Baruwa, then Chairman of the Board, along with other officials.
Misuse of Labour Welfare Cess
The ED stated that the conspiracy revolved around the fraudulent siphoning of government funds collected as Labour Welfare Cess, which is levied under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996, generally at 1% of the construction cost.
This cess constitutes a dedicated welfare fund exclusively meant for the social security and welfare of registered construction workers—among the most vulnerable sections of society. The fund is intended to provide benefits such as accident and death assistance, medical aid, maternity benefits, pensions, educational assistance for workers’ children, funeral expenses, and other welfare measures, given the hazardous and informal nature of construction work.
Investigators allege that the accused and his associates fraudulently diverted and laundered funds meant for extremely poor construction workers, causing significant loss to the welfare ecosystem.
₹121.05 Crore in Fraudulent Contracts
According to the ED, during the financial years 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16, Priyanshu Boiragi was awarded fraudulent printing contracts worth ₹121.05 crore through staged, fake and forged tendering processes.
Of this amount, ₹118.55 crore was allegedly released by the ABOCWWB to M/s Purbashree Printing House. The ED claims that substantial portions of this money were immediately converted into personal fixed deposits in the name of the accused, while the remaining funds were routed through multiple shell entities based in Delhi to disguise the trail and complicate the identification of the Proceeds of Crime (PoC).
Searches, Seizures and Attachments
During the searches, the ED seized incriminating documents, electronic devices, and one Audi car under relevant provisions of the PMLA.
The agency also noted that, in the same case earlier, fixed deposits and bank balances amounting to ₹34.03 crore had already been provisionally attached under Section 5(1) of the PMLA. These attachments were subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA.
Investigation Ongoing
The ED stated that the investigation is continuing to identify the full money trail, additional beneficiaries, and the role of other public servants and private entities involved in the alleged scam.
