New Delhi, March 22
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached several immovable properties, located at Chandrapur and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra, and movable properties in the form of bank balances lying in various accounts of individuals and entities valuing total Rs. 13.71 crore in a scam related to “online tiger safari booking” of “Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve” allegedly committed by Abhishek Vinodkumar Thakur, Rohit Vinodkumar Thakur, both partners of M/s Wild Connectivity Solutions (“WCS”) under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by Maharashtra Police in Chandrapur under various sections of IPC,1860 against aforesaid persons for allegdly defrauding the forest department through financial misconduct and mis-appropriation.
ED investigation revealed that WCS was engaged by the “Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve” through a Service Level Agreement (SLA), to provide uninterrupted services to the visitors which includes collecting entry fees, gypsy charges & guide charges. However, the accused Abhishek Vinodkumar Thakur and Rohit Vinodkumar Thakur, both partners of WCS violated the terms of the agreement and cheated the Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation to the extent of Rs. 16.5 crore during the FY’s 2020-21 to 2023-24.
Earlier in this case search operations were carried out by ED under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 in January 2025 resulting into seizure of gold, bullion & platinum jewellery of worth Rs. 1.42 Crore apart from multiple digital devices and certain incriminating documents. Search proceedings also unravelled that the accused persons had utilised the Proceeds of Crime (POC) in acquisition of properties in their personal name as well as in the name of certain entities and also for making repayments of past loans availed in the name of their other entities.
