New Delhi, 02 September (H.S.):

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at 14 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, the National Capital Region and Kolkata in connection with a money laundering case involving alleged fraudulent toll collection and diversion of funds at various toll plazas operated under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

According to the ED, teams from its Lucknow zonal office are carrying out the searches under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation was initiated on the basis of FIR No. 17 registered on January 22, 2025, and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) No. ECIR/ASZSO/04/2025 registered on May 19, 2025.

The investigation has revealed the alleged use of unauthorised software applications to generate toll receipts outside the official system at various NHAI toll plazas and to divert toll collections outside the authorised accounting system.

According to the investigating agency, forensic examination and records obtained from the NHAI have also corroborated the generation of unauthorised toll receipts through the software and the alleged diversion of funds.

Based on the findings that have emerged during the investigation, the ED has conducted searches at the premises linked to the case.

The searches are aimed at recovering digital devices and documentary evidence related to the case, identifying individuals who allegedly benefited from the system and tracing the proceeds of crime.

During the searches, ED teams are examining electronic devices, documents and other records recovered from the premises. The agency said further investigation in the matter is underway.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar