Raids on ex-IFS officer point to bigger nexus of retired armymen and diplomats: ED

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a search at the premises of a retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official for his alleged involvement with a private company that violated foreign exchange rules while dealing in Africa, the intelligence department has alerted the investigating agencies about few more former diplomats and ex-army officials who could be using their contacts to help private companies.  

The investigating agency on Thursday raided the premises of a private company Angelique International Ltd and a retired IFS officer Deepak Vohra on the charges of alleged violation of foreign exchange rules while dealing in Africa. 

The agency conducted raid at multiple places in Delhi and Noida. During the search, the agency has found foreign currency of about $54,000, 11,000 euros and Rs 37 lakh in cash from the different offices of the said firm. 

Sources in ED told Millennium Post that their action on the former career diplomat was based on the intelligence input. “ED had received an input from the intelligence department about the former diplomat who was posted in South Africa for some time. Now, it has been found that the officer was working for an India-based company as a liaison officer and helped the company to get contracts in Africa,” the official said. 

Speaking on the role of the diplomat, the official said that the agency acted on the intelligence input and according to them he is believed to have used his contacts in Africa to help the company which violated certain rules under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). “The agency is in the process of examining all the documents seized from the firm and the official. The role of the officer can only be determined after his banking transactions are probed,” said the official. 

Sources in intelligence department said that few top former army officials are suspected to be using their contacts to benefit the private companies while working for them as a consultant. “Investigating agencies have already been alerted of their involvement and possible corruption,” said the official.