Case against ex-ED joint director: CBI conducts searches

Mumbai, Aug 20 (PTI) CBI today conducted searches at theresidences of a bookie and a businessman here in connectionwith the 2015 bribery case against the former Joint Directorof Enforcement Directorate in Ahmedabad, J P Singh. CBI had last year registered a case of criminalconspiracy under the IPC and various offences under thePrevention of Corruption Act against Singh, a 2000 batch IRSofficer, and several others. The case was registered after ED wrote to the CBI seekinginvestigation against Singh, who was then joint director of EDin Ahmedabad. It was alleged that Singh had extorted moneyfrom those accused of money laundering in the IPL bettingracket case. "Searches are currently being conducted at the residenceof a bookie and a businessman in (suburban) Malad area," asenior CBI officer said here, refusing to give moreinformation. ED’s Ahmedabad unit was probing two important cases — Rs2,600 crore IPL betting scandal and Rs 5,000 crore moneylaundering case against the alleged hawala operator AfrozFatta. It is alleged that Singh and two other ED officersthreatened the accused or the suspects in these cases, andextorted money or took bribes from them. PTI SP KRKIKA