Assets worth Rs 4 crore attached in Chinese loan app scam probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday attached fresh assets worth Rs 4 crore as part of its money laundering probe against a Chinese national staying “illegally” in India and his associate.
It said the Chinese national’s associate allegedly indulged in a host of criminal activities like gambling, prostitution and for secret clubs for people from China. The investigation is connected to the Chinese national identified as Xue Fei, who was first booked by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police in Noida near Delhi.
The attached properties were in the form of bank and fixed deposits of Rs 3.12 crore and an immovable property (residential flat) worth Rs 60 lakh situated at SAS Nagar in Mohali, Punjab “beneficially owned” by Ravi Natvarlal Thakkar, a close associate of Xue Fei, the main accused, and others, the agency said in a statement.
A provisional order was issued by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach these properties.
The Chinese national was staying “illegally” in India and he, along with Thakkar and others, was “running and controlling” two hotels and clubs named Luckin Club Private Limited and Tianshang Renjian Private Limited in the National Capital Region (NCR) “exclusively” for Chinese nationals, especially those who used to enter and stay in India illegally, the ED said.
“Various illegal activities and services like gambling and prostitution by underage girls were being carried by Xue Fei and his cartel in these hotels/clubs,” it said.
