ED raids Rakesh Choudhary's residence, office in NHAI toll collection fraud case
03/09/2026
JAMMU, Sep 2: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday condu-cted searches at 14 premises across multiple states in connection with a money laundering investigation into alleged fraudulent toll collection at various National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) toll plazas, with businessman Rakesh Choudhary's residence and office in Jammu also searched.
The searches were conducted by the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Premises in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Kolkata were covered during the operation.
In Jammu, an ED team, accompanied by central security personnel, reached Choudhary's residence in the Green Belt area of Gandhi Nagar at around 9 am. The premises were sealed during the search, with entry and exit restricted. The agency also searched his office in Trikuta Nagar and examined documents, records and other material.
According to officials, the investigation relates to allegations of fraudulent toll collection through the use of unauthorised software applications for generating unauthorised or fake toll receipts and diverting toll collections outside NHAI's official accounting mechanism.
The investigation stems from FIR No. 17 dated January 22, 2025, and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) No. ECIR/ASZO/04/2025 dated May 19, 2025.
The ED said its investigation has revealed the alleged deployment of unauthorised software at various toll plazas. Officials claimed that forensic examination and NHAI records had corroborated the deployment of such software.
The searches are aimed at recovering digital and documentary evidence, identifying the beneficiaries of the alleged operation and tracing the proceeds of crime, officials said.
The agency is also examining the flow of money allegedly collected through the unauthorised system and whether such collections were diverted outside NHAI's official accounts.
The searches are part of the ED's ongoing investigation into the alleged toll collection fraud, and further details are expected to emerge following examination of the documents and digital material seized during the operation.
Share This Story |
|
Comment On This Story |
|
|
|
|