Red Sanders smuggling case: ED files prosecution complaint under PMLA, court takes cognizance

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], October 10 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint in connection with Red Sanders smuggling under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before the Special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam, an agency release said on Tuesday.
According to the release, the Court has taken cognizance of the Prosecution Complaint.
"The Directorate of Enforcement has filed a Prosecution Complaint under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 against habitual smugglers of red sanders- R Selvaraj, Sanjana Metalware India Pvt. Ltd., P Vishnu Anand and DL Madhusudhan - in the case relating to the smuggling of Red Sanders before the Special PMLA Court, Visakhapatnam," the release stated.
ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by Narayanavanam PS, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh Police under various sections of IPC, Wildlife Protection Act, Biological Diversity Act and Arms Act for alleged possession and smuggling of red sandalwood and other related activities.
Subsequently, multiple FIRs against R Selvaraj and others registered by Andhra Police under IPC, Arms Act, Biological Diversity Act, Wildlife Protection Act, AP State Forest Act, etc. were found and the same were taken up within the ambit of ongoing investigation in the case.

ED investigation revealed that R Selvaraj is a habitual offender involved in the smuggling of red sanders and other associated criminal activities and has thereby generated huge amounts of proceeds of crime.
As per the release, the proceeds of the crime were invested by him in acquiring several properties in his name and in the name of his family members along with his family-owned company - Sanjana Metalware India Pvt. Ltd. The other accused persons knowingly assisted R Selvaraj in the concealment and possession of property acquired out of proceeds of crime and in projecting the same as untainted, it added.
Earlier, ED had attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 2.74 crores belonging to R Selvaraj, his family members and Sanjana Metalware India Pvt. Ltd. in March 2022 which was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, PMLA in September 2022.
Further investigation is underway. (ANI)