Assets worth crores seized from Dino Morea, Ahmed Patel's son-in-law

Mumbai: In a money laundering case connected with the Rs 16,000 crore Sterling Biotech loan, the Enforcement Directorate has provisionally confiscated assets worth over Rs 8 crore of Bollywood actor Dino Morea, late Congress leader Ahmed Patel's son-in-law, Sanjay Khan, and Aqeel Abdulkhalil Bachooali, better known as DJ Aqeel.

The ED said that that they have received crores from Gujarat-based businessman Sandesara brothers, Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, the fugitive owners of Sterling Biotech. The Sandesara brothers have been accused of cheating several public sector banks.

The ED investigation into the financial crimes and a money-laundering done by the Sandesara brothers led to Dino Morea, Sanjay Khan and Sanjay Khan, the reports said.

Sandesaras have been accused of diverting proceeds of crime of Rs 3 crore, Rs 1.4 crore, Rs 12.54 crore and Rs 3.51 crore to Sanjay Khan, Dino Morea, Aqeel Bachooali and Irfan Ahmed Siddiqui, respectively. The ED revealed that the DJ Aqeel received Rs 12.54 crore, and Irfan Siddiqui Rs 3.51 crore while Dino Morea got Rs 1.4 crore from Sandesaras.

The confiscated assets include eight immovable properties, three vehicles, and several bank accounts, shares and mutual funds that amount to a cumulative value of Rs. 8.79 crore, according to the ED.

Assets worth Rs 14,521 crore out of Rs 16,000 crore fraud have been seized so far, said the ED sources. Nitin Sandesara and Chetankumar Sandesara were alleged to have been fled the country in 2017 along with others and are believed to be in Nigeria with authorities trying to extradite them.