Gujarat Director General of Police Shivanand Jha today asked senior police officials to refer the cases of seasoned bootleggers to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to get their assets attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In a directive to district superintendents of police and other senior officials, Jha said all relevant evidence should be collected to build a strong case against hardened bootleggers, so that the ED can invoke the PMLA against them and attach their properties.
A report should be sent to the ED whenever police confiscate large amounts of liquor (which is banned in Gujarat), he said.
As the offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act are not included in the list of 'scheduled offences' under the PMLA, police couldn't attach the properties of bootleggers, the DGP's directive noted.
"But, it is also observed that bootleggers often forge various documents to acquire liquor from neighbouring states and sell it here. In such scenario, the PMLA can be invoked, as forgery and other such illegal means are included in the 'scheduled offences' under that Act," said the communique.
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