ED attaches properties worth ₹10,021.46 crore in PACL case

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ED has taken enactment   PACL nether  the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based connected  a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) connected  February 19, 2014, pursuing  a absorption  of the Supreme Court. (Representational image)

ED has taken enactment PACL nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based connected a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) connected February 19, 2014, pursuing a absorption of the Supreme Court. (Representational image) | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 247 immovable properties worthy ₹10,021.46 crore successful transportation with a ₹48,000-crore fiscal fraud lawsuit against PACL Limited and related entities, said the bureau connected Wednesday (February 18, 2026).

“This is astir apt the biggest attachment ever,” said an bureau official. The properties are located successful Punjab’s SAS Nagar, Rupnagar, Zirakpur and Mohali. The full attachment successful the lawsuit truthful acold present stands astatine astir ₹17,610 crore, including 2 immovable assets worthy ₹462 crore successful Australia attached successful 2018.

The bureau has taken enactment nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based connected a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) connected February 19, 2014, pursuing a absorption of the Supreme Court. The CBI has filed a chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet against 33 accused, including individuals and companies.

As alleged, they operated an amerciable corporate concern strategy and collected funds from lakhs of investors crossed India nether the pretext of merchantability and improvement of cultivation land.

“Investors were induced to put nether Cash Down Payment and Instalment Payment Plans, and were made to motion misleading documents specified arsenic agreements, powers of lawyer and different instruments. In astir cases, onshore was ne'er delivered, and astir ₹48,000 crore remains unpaid to investors. The strategy progressive usage of aggregate beforehand entities and reverse merchantability transactions to conceal the fraud and make wrongful gains,” the bureau said.

After registration of the FIR, the Supreme Court had connected February 2, 2016, directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to represent a committee nether the chairmanship of erstwhile Chief Justice of India, Justice R. M. Lodha, to dispose of the onshore purchased by PACL and to administer the merchantability proceeds to the investors.

However, further probe revealed continued alleged amerciable dissipation of PACL assets, starring to registration of 3 further FIRs by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Jawahar Circle constabulary presumption (Jaipur), and Attibele constabulary presumption (Bengaluru) for amerciable sale, encroachment, and misuse of onshore acquired utilizing capitalist funds.

In 2016, the ED initiated probe into the money-laundering complaint and filed a prosecution ailment successful 2018, followed by 3 supplementary complaints successful 2022, 2025 and earlier this year, against assorted accused persons and entities. The peculiar tribunal acrophobic has taken cognisance of them.

Published - February 18, 2026 09:18 p.m. IST

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