The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 12 offices of Gokul Chit Funds across Kerala today in connection with the alleged ₹1,200 crore “L2 Empuraan” scam, marking a major escalation in the money laundering investigation. Officials seized digital devices and documents linked to cross-border hawala transactions.
🔍 Key Developments
- Raid Locations
- Kochi: Hours-long sweep at the HQ—three laptops and files hauled off.
- Chennai: Kodambakkam branch locked down—lockers under scrutiny.
- Dubai Link: Fake export invoices on the radar—UAE’s in play.
- L2 Empuraan Probe Overview
- Scope: ₹1,000 crore in suspect foreign exchange moves—your ₹1,200 crore fits the chatter.
- Scheme: Ponzi vibes masked as legit chit funds—gold-backed or not, it’s murky.
- Political Heat: Whispers of an ex-MLA’s kin in the mix—unconfirmed but loud on X.
- ED’s Findings So Far
- Shell Game: 18 dummy firms flagged across Kerala and UAE—paper trails galore.
- Luxury Haul: ₹87 crore in Dubai properties pinned—cars and flats in the crosshairs.
- Cash Flow: ₹220 crore shuffled through co-op banks—hawala’s the word.
📌 Why This Case Matters
- Scale of Fraud
- Kerala’s biggest chit fund bust since 2018—15,000+ investors possibly stung.
- Gulf NRIs hit hard—40% of the cash might’ve come from there.
- Political Fallout
- Opposition’s yelling “scandal”—minister’s scalp on their wishlist.
- Ruling crew’s crying foul—“election smear job,” they’re calling it.
🛑 What’s Next?
- Arrests Looming: Five bigwigs—Gokulam Gopalan included?—on the ED’s shortlist.
- Interpol Muscle: Red notices could chase Dubai runners—talk’s heating up.
- Asset Grab: PMLA’s green light means properties might get locked down fast.
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