ED conducts search operation in 'Debutter Board Kamakhya' case

Guwahati: Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office has conducted search operation under the provisions of Prevention of money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in the matter of “Debutter Board Kamakhya”, involved into management of Ma Kamakhya Temple at Kamrup (Guwahati, Assam) for alleged misappropriation of funds by the officials of defunct Kamakhya Debutter Board from 2003 till 2019 to the tune of Rs. 7.62 Crore.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by PS CID, Guwahati under various sections of IPC,1860 for misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs. 7.62 Crore (approx.) against officials of “Kamakhya Debutter Board”: by way of transfer of funds to related entities and routing of the same to entities owned by officials for their personal gains.

In order to siphon funds of Maa Kamakhya Temple, these ex-officials hired related/ shell entities for supply of materials like electrical goods, cements, cleaning chemicals, manpower and other services. The funds were then transferred to entities owned by the officials or taken out in cash. Officials mischievously resorted to splitting of bills to keep value under Rs. 50,000/- so as to be compliant of court direction forbidding expense of larger amounts without permission of the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup.


On January 22, ED has conducted search operations, under PMLA, 2002, at the residential premises of Riju Prasad Sarma, then Administrator Kamakhya Debutter Board; Dhiraj Sarma & Naba Kanta Sarma (both since deceased), the ex-officials of the then Debutter Board of Kamakhya in relation with generation of Proceeds of Crime (POC) connected with funds of Maa Kamakhya Temple.

The search actions by ED have resulted in seizure of insurance policies worth Rs. 1.82 Crore taken out in the name of officials of Kamakhya Debutter Board and their family members. Further, documents related to immovable properties and business entities of officials of Kamakhya Debutter Board and their family members have been seized. Besides, more than 27 banks accounts of various related
persons have surfaced during searches. Further investigation is under progress.