ED carries out searches at locations linked to Rajesh Exports

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at nine locations linked to Rajesh Exports in Bengaluru and Mumbai as part of its probe into alleged forex violations, people aware of the development said.

Rajesh Export was not immediately reachable for a comment.

The ED action follows a recent interim order by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) alleging that Rajesh Exports overstated its consolidated revenues by over ₹15 lakh crore during a five-year period.


According to people cited above, the searches have so far uncovered evidence suggesting benami transactions in shares of Rajesh Exports.

The agency has also found a significant discrepancy in the company's gold inventory, they said.

"During physical verification, the stock of gold was found to be around 40% lower than the quantity reflected in the company's books of accounts," one of them said.

The ED is examining the adjustment of nearly ₹3,000 crore worth of trade receivables against gold imports whose delivery is under suspicion.

The agency is also looking at the company's overseas direct investments of over ₹1,000 crore purportedly in African gold mining ventures and the set-off of approximately ₹3,000 crore in trade receivables and payables involving four to five foreign entities based in the UAE.