Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on Monday continued the interim relief granted to petitioner Bhupesh Arora, which was given by the court on June 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023, and also directed that no coercive action be taken against him.
According to a statement by Dimapur Sub-Zonal Office and Guwahati Zonal Office – II of Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Arora had cheated hundreds of gullible public of Nagaland through HPZ Token app. Based on complaint filed by hundreds of gullible public who had been cheated crores of rupees through HPZ Token app, Cyber Crime Police Station, Kohima had filed an FIR (no.03/2021) on October 8, 2021.
Based on the FIR, ED Dimapur Sub-Zonal Office initiated investigation under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. During the course of investigation, the ED conducted searches throughout the country at 44 locations, while balances available in various bank accounts, virtual accounts held with various banks and payment gateways by various suspected entities, including Chinese shell companies, amounting to Rs 176.67 crore were frozen. ED claimed that its investigation had revealed involvement of Arora, for which action had been taken against him. The directorate said the accused had cheated gullible public through online gaming and betting apps being run by shell companies.
Arora fled to Dubai to escape from the clutches of law and had filed writ petitions in Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, against the action of ED and FIR filed by Cyber Crime Police Station, Kohima. The writ petitions had been postponed to Octobe 16 and 17, 2023 for further hearing by the court and to decide on the writ petitions, the statement added.