Bank account of AgustaWestland middleman’s wife attached

New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) In a major action against Ritu Khaitan, wife of AgustaWestland helicopter scandal accused Gautam Khaitan, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday attached her bank account which had Rs 7.49 lakh.

A senior ED official said the agency attached the bank account maintained in an ICICI bank here under the money laundering act.

According to the agency, Ritu Khaitan has committed an offence punishable under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015.

The ED said Ritu Khaitan held the beneficial interest or ownership in foreign assets or company or bank account "but failed to disclose the same in her return of income filed before the Income Tax Authorities".

"She has been found laundering money in various other personal and bank accounts of companies in Singapore and Mauritius in which she has beneficial interest," the ED official said.

"Investigation revealed she maintained foreign bank accounts in her name, in the name of companies owned by her and in joint name with her father-in-law and husband abroad, namely Barclays Bank, Singapore, and Bank of Singapore," the official said.

The foreign bank accounts showed huge inward remittances, the official added.

Gautam Khaitan was arrested on January 25 this year.

The officials said that there were other pending cases of corruption and money laundering against Gautam Khaitan.

The fresh criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was filed by the ED against Gautam Khaitan and his wife on the basis of a case lodged by the Income Tax Department against him.