ED Attaches Properties Worth Rs 8 Crore Linked to Ex-SP MLA Hashmi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth over Rs 8 crore belonging to former Samajwadi Party MLA Arif Anwar Hashmi and his wife as part of a money laundering investigation. The properties, located in Uttar Pradesh districts, were allegedly acquired through illegal activities.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday announced the attachment of properties valued at over Rs 8 crore belonging to former Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi Party MLA Arif Anwar Hashmi and his wife. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering investigation.

The assets, which include residential flats, commercial and agricultural plots, are located in Lucknow, Balrampur, and Gonda districts. The provisional attachment order was issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to a statement from the federal probe agency.

The case stems from multiple FIRs filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police against Hashmi, who served as a two-time SP legislator from the Utraula seat in Balrampur district from 2007 to 2017. Charges against him and his associates include fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. The ED's investigation alleged Hashmi has been involved in illegal encroachment and land grabbing since 1984, generating illegal income significantly disproportionate to his known sources.

(With inputs from agencies.)