ED raids: Mystery of a fake Interpol agent who had stripped naked before I-T team
During the last week's raid, the Enforcement Directorate came across a diamond merchant, who faked as Interpol agent and had stripped naked during an I-T raid in 2014.
In Short
- Chetan Shah had stripped naked before I-T team during a raid.
- Chetan Shah operated 15 shell companies.
- ED seized a fake Interpol agent ID card during raid.
During its searches last week, the Mumbai team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) was shocked to see an identity card saying 'Secret Agent' of Interpol at the residence of a diamond trader.
The Enforcement Directorate recovered a soft copy of the ID card from the Ipad of the diamond merchant, who was on the radar of the agencies for past few years.
Chetan Shah's has been absconding and his details have been handed over to Mumbai police for further investigation.
THE PRIZED CATCH
Chetan Shah is a diamond merchant and owns an office at Shreeji Chambers in Opera House, Mumbai. Chetan and his wife Hema Shah are the promoters of Decent Diamond Pvt Ltd, a diamond company and directors of at least 15 shell companies.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, the shell companies are:
- Sarth Towers Private Limited (active)
- Adamas Real Estate Pvt Ltd (active)
- D Bentley Watch Jewellery Pvt Ltd (active)
- Brillare Watch Pvt Ltd (active)
- Dimar Properties Pvt Ltd (inactive)
- Decent Dia-Jewels Pvt Ltd (active)
- Beautiful Minds Realty Pvt Ltd (active)
- Arete Gems Pvt Ltd (active)
- Dimar Construction Pvt Ltd (inactive)
- Electra Multimedia Pvt Ltd (active)
- Diamar Properties Pvt Ltd (active)
- Hem- Chet Homes Pvt Ltd
- Shahs Villa Pvt Ltd (inactive)
- Sarth Brickon Ltd (active)
- Diacenter Diamonds Pvt Ltd
"During the investigation, the agency came across with documents indicating that Chetan's wife Hema Shah is the director of these shell companies. But, on Saturday, when searches were conducted, Hema claimed that she is only 12th pass and has no experienced of managing a company. She stated that all paperwork were handled by her husband Chetan only", an Enforcement Directorate official told Indiatoday.in
The Enforcement Directorate had been keeping investigating a loan default case of Rs 350 crore (approximately) against Chetan Shah under FEMA.
The Decent Diamonds Private Ltd and its shell companies had taken loans from four public sector banks. Three of these banks were Dena Bank, Union Bank of India and Syndicate Bank, the ED official said.
THE MYSTERY OF INTERPOL ID
During the raid at Chetan Shah's Worli residence, the Enforcement Directorate found several incriminating documents related to his shell companies in the form of hard and soft copies.
"While checking Chetan Shah's Ipad, our team came across with a fake "special agent of Anti-Terrorism Division, Department of Investigations" ID card with an official logo and markings of Interpol International Police," the Enforcement Directorate official said.
On the reverse side of the ID, there was a thumb impression and personal details of the person including date of birth, height, hair colour, weight, blood group and few vague signatures.
The ED officials told Indiatoday.in that further investigation related to fake Interpol ID would be done by Mumbai Police.
"The complete details have been handed over to Mumbai police. Why a diamond trader created a fake Interpol ID and for what activities he was using this fake card, all these angles would be probed by Mumbai police," the source said.
Mumbai Police DCP Pravin Padwal said, "We are looking into this case. Chetan remained absconding even before the searches and now even his wife is not seen around. Once we interrogate both of them, we would be able to say anything regarding the usage of fake Interpol ID".
For both the Enforcement Directorate and Mumbai Police, the fake Interpol ID remains a mystery.
WHEN CHETAN SHAH STRIPPED NAKED
Chetan Shah has been on the wrong side of the law for over three years now. In 2014, an Income Tax team raided his residence in connection of some financial irregularities.
While the Income Tax team was in the process of the raid, Chetan Shah stripped naked in front of the IT sleuths, which included two women officials. The incident was reported on May 5, 2014.
The Income Tax department lodged a complaint with police. Chetan Shah was booked under Section 509 of the IPC (bailable offence). He was arrested by Mumbai Police and spent two days in jail.
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(UPDATE: As per an order dated 24.07.2018 passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, 62nd Court, Dadar, Mumbai, the accused was discharged from the question, according to information provided his lawyers.)