ED raids multiple cities in cash-for-votes allegations: Investigations underway

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated large-scale raids across several cities on Thursday as part of its investigation into an alleged cash-for-votes scandal. ED teams are currently conducting searches at 13 locations in Ahmedabad, three sites in Surat, two locations in Malegaon and Nashik, and five properties in Mumbai. The raids are focused on uncovering evidence related to financial irregularities and vote-buying practices. Sources suggest the ED operation aims to trace the flow of illicit money, potential bribes, and other financial transactions that may have been used to influence voters.

It is believed that up to Rs 125 crore could have been laundered with the intention of swaying voters. The ED’s raids are primarily targeting the bank accounts of suspects who are accused of exploiting the accounts of economically vulnerable individuals to launder money. Officials involved in the operation stated, "The suspects allegedly used these accounts to hide illicit funds and avoid detection. The investigation is focused on uncovering the money trail and revealing the full scale of the bank accounts' misuse." The ED believes the funds were made to appear legitimate by routing them through multiple accounts, thus covering up the illicit nature of the transactions.