Imphal, Dec 17: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations across Manipur as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation involving alleged illegal fund mobilisation and activities linked to waging war against the Government of India.
According to official sources, at least five premises in Imphal were searched in connection with the case.
The raids are linked to Yambem Biren, who claims to be the chief minister of the self-styled Manipur State Council, and Narengbam Samarjit, who describes himself as the council’s external affairs and defence minister.
In a statement, the ED said both individuals are key figures associated with the Salai Group of Companies and are accused of collecting more than ₹50 crore from the public through fraudulent investment schemes. “The funds were allegedly diverted for activities amounting to sedition and waging war against the Indian state,” the agency said.
The ED further stated that the alleged acts involved sedition, promotion of enmity among groups, and challenges to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The accused had earlier been booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case stems from a 2019 press conference in London, where Biren and Samarjit allegedly declared Manipur’s independence from India.
According to the ED, Smart Society, an entity linked to the accused, operated illegally as a non-banking financial company (NBFC), collecting cash deposits from the public under the guise of membership fees and offering high returns, which were also paid in cash.
“An amount of ₹57.36 crore was collected from investors under various schemes and deposited into personal accounts of the Salai Group, Smart Society, and their directors,” the ED said.
Investigations in the case are ongoing.
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