ED intensifies action in money laundering case: Rupali Chakankar’s sister questioned for 8 hours
Maharashtra: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into a money laundering case in Maharashtra. Pratibha Chakankar, the younger sister of former Maharashtra State Women’s Commission chairperson and NCP leader Rupali Chakankar, appeared before the ED on Monday. The questioning was conducted in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving Ashok Kharat, a self-proclaimed godman.
According to officials, Pratibha Chakankar was questioned for over eight hours after being summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). During the interrogation, she was asked detailed questions about alleged financial transactions, bank accounts, and suspicious transactions.
The investigating agency is not limited to Pratibha Chakankar alone but is also investigating the role of other members of her family. In this regard, her son, Tanmay Chakankar, has also been summoned by the ED. The agency believes that some financial transactions in this case may be related to other family members.
According to ED officials, during the investigation, four bank accounts have been identified as suspicious in this case. Two of these accounts are in the name of Pratibha Chakankar, while two are in the name of her son, Tanmay Chakankar. All these accounts are operated at the Samata Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd. in Nashik.
Officials say that the transactions in these bank accounts are being thoroughly investigated to determine the source of the funds and whether they are linked to the alleged money laundering network linked to Ashok Kharat.
According to sources, Ashok Kharat is accused of raising funds from followers by posing as a spiritual guru or “god” and misappropriating it. The ED is questioning various individuals as part of its investigation into this suspected financial network.
This ED action has also caused a stir in political circles, as the case involves a prominent political family. However, the investigating agency has clarified that the entire investigation is being conducted solely on the basis of financial evidence and transaction records.
The ED is currently continuing its investigation into the case, and officials say that more people may be questioned in the coming days. Forensic examination of bank records and digital transactions is also underway.
The agency’s goal is to unravel the entire financial network and determine whether large-scale illegal money transactions are involved.
