In a major crackdown on environmental crime-linked financial offenses, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets valued at a staggering Rs 79.93 crore belonging to M/s Malbros International Private Limited. The action was taken by the ED's Jalandhar Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The Roots of the Probe: A Criminal Complaint for Water Pollution
The investigation was initiated based on a criminal complaint filed by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The PPCB had accused the company of blatantly violating the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The primary allegation was that Malbros International, operating from its industrial unit in Village Mansoorwal, Tehsil Zira, Ferozepur, was injecting untreated wastewater directly into deep aquifers through a method known as reverse boring.
The ED's probe revealed that the company was systematically generating and acquiring Proceeds of Crime (PoC) through its operations. Investigators found that the firm engaged in the deliberate and large-scale pollution of groundwater. This was done not only through the covert reverse boring technique but also by repeatedly discharging untreated industrial effluents onto land, into drains, and towards an adjacent sugar mill.
Ecological Damage and Health Hazards
According to the official press release from the Enforcement Directorate, the persistent illegal actions of the company caused large-scale and irreparable ecological damage. The widespread water pollution led to severe consequences for the surrounding villages, including:
- Significant loss of crops.
- Deaths of cattle.
- Serious health impacts on the local population due to the contaminated water supply.
The ED emphasized that the company's activities created a major public health hazard in the region.
Earlier Actions and Asset Details
This provisional attachment of assets is a continuation of the ED's rigorous investigation. Earlier, on July 16, 2024, the agency had conducted searches at six locations connected to the company and its directors. During those raids, under Section 17 of the PMLA, authorities seized a substantial amount of Rs 78.15 lakh in cash from the premises.
The assets now attached include the company's immovable properties in the form of land, buildings, and plant & machinery. The total value of these attached assets has been pegged at Rs 79.93 crore. A provisional attachment order under PMLA means the properties are legally frozen and cannot be sold or transferred by the accused during the pendency of the case.
This case highlights the increasing focus of central agencies like the ED on tracking and seizing the financial gains derived from serious environmental crimes, treating the ecological damage as a predicate offense for money laundering.
