The Guwahati Zonal Office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached immovable properties worth Rs 8.90 crore in Guwahati and Goalpara, and movable properties worth Rs 3.71 lakh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in an investigation related to disproportionate assets case against Akhtar Hussain, the then Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Cachar Soil Conservation Division, Silchar, and his wife Dr Jasmine Rahman, Senior Medical and Health Officer, Kamrup (Metro).
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, Assam Police against Akhtar Hussain under Sections 13(1)(b)/13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act. 1988 for possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The chargesheet filed by CM’S Special Vigilance Cell disclosed that during the check period from 09.04.2003 to 28.02.2023, Akhtar Hussain possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs. 8.97 crore. constituting 191.50 per cent of his known sources of income.
Financial investigations by ED revealed that Akhtar Hussain and his wife acquired multiple immovable properties during the check period by making payments substantially higher than the registered values shown in sale deeds, thereby concealing the actual deployment of Proceeds of Crime (POC). They could not satisfactorily explain the source of large cash amounts used for property purchases. Investigation also revealed that properties were strategically registered in the names of family members to create layers of concealment. Properties acquired through POC were used to generate monthly rental income. Cash deposits aggregating to Rs. 11.91 lakh were made in Akhtar Hussain’s accounts and Rs. 59.89 lakh in his wife’s accounts, according to ED.
