ED Submits Supplementary Complaint Against PLFI Chief Dinesh Gope in Money Laundering Case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a supplementary prosecution complaint before the Special PMLA Court in Ranchi against Dinesh Gope, leader of the outlawed People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), over alleged terror financing and money laundering activities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The complaint also includes 19 co-accused individuals and entities. The ED estimates that the PLFI generated about ?20 crore in criminal proceeds through extortion and levy collection in Jharkhand and adjoining regions.

Gope, who was arrested by the NIA from Nepal in May 2023, is currently lodged in Palamu Central Jail. Before his arrest, authorities had placed rewards of ?25 lakh (Jharkhand Police) and ?5 lakh (NIA) for his capture.

According to the ED, Gope and his associates laundered money through multiple shell firms including Bhavya Engikan Pvt Ltd, Shiv Shakti Minerals Pvt Ltd, Shakti Samriddhi Infra Pvt Ltd, and Palak Enterprises—companies managed by his wives, Shakuntala Devi and Geeta, and aide Sumant Kumar.

Financial probes have so far traced over ?2.5 crore in suspicious transactions and seized ?19.93 lakh from accounts linked to Gope’s family. A flat in Ranchi and a house in Edalhatu, valued at nearly ?1 crore, have also been attached.

The case has its origins in a 2018 FIR at Bedo police station, Ranchi, where Gope’s aide was caught depositing ?25.38 lakh in demonetised currency. The ED is now widening the investigation to uncover the full extent of Gope’s extortion network and money laundering operations in the region.

With inputs from IANS