A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted simultaneous raids at four to five locations in the city against a jeweller - Purushottam Kawle and a businessman Shailesh Lakhotia. The ED officers raided Kawle’s residence located in Empress City near Gandhi Sagar and his jewellery shop - Sagar Jewellers - in Itwari Sarafa Bazar. Sources told ‘The Hitavada’ that the ED officers detained Kawle for further investigation. It is important to note that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had previously arrested Kawle in a gold-smuggling case. Apart from this, the ED officers also raided the residence and office of Shailesh Lakhotia in Wardhaman Nagar. According to the sources, Lakhotia was involved in ‘hawala transactions’, and on-line betting.

 

Sources said the ED officers recovered and seized various incriminating documents and cash. Various personal bank accounts of the jeweller and businessman have been frozen. More than 25 officers and staff members attached to Enforcement Directorate from Nagpur and Raipur took part in the simultaneous raids that have created a buzz in the city’s bullion market. Sources said that the city has been witnessing many cases of gold smuggling, ‘hawala transactions’, and on-line betting. The city has also become one of the favourite destinations for cricket bookies.