ED files money laundering case against Vectra chief

A money laundering case has been registered against Vectra chief Ravinder Rishi and his firms by the Enforcement Directorate to probe alleged generation of illegal funds in the defence deal between Tatra Sipox United Kingdom and defence public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited.

The agency has registered the case after gathering initial details of the probe from the Central Bureau of Investigation and other official channels and it is set to question few people including Rishi in this regard.

The ED, according to sources, is probing if these defence deals and those involved in the execution of the agreements had 'off the book' or overpriced transactions leading to generation of illegal funds which could have been subsequently laundered in other investment avenues.

The CBI has earlier questioned Rishi many times in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Tatra truck supply to the army.

The ED has asked Rishi to produce documents related the Tatra Sipox UK Memorandum of Understanding with the BEML which was inked in 1997 including the details of their financial statements and tax returns.

The Directorate will ask for similar documents from BEML and if need arises, from the Defence Ministry, the sources said.