ED files PMLA case against ex-Daman Panchayat chief Ketan Patel over Rs.3.77 crore assets

Ahmedabad/Daman — The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office, has filed a complaint before the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Daman against Ketan Patel, the former District Panchayat President of the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The complaint stems from an investigation initiated by the ED on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI had booked Ketan Patel and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for allegedly amassing illegal wealth during his tenure between October 4, 2005, and October 5, 2015.

Following its probe, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Patel, concluding that he possessed assets worth ₹3.77 crore that were disproportionate to his known and lawful sources of income. Based on these findings, the ED launched a parallel investigation under the PMLA to trace the proceeds of crime and examine the alleged laundering of illicit funds.

According to the ED, the investigation revealed that Ketan Patel, while serving as the District Panchayat President for a decade, allegedly received corrupt money that resulted in large and suspicious cash deposits in his bank accounts. The probe also uncovered multiple fraudulent entries in bank statements, which the agency claims were designed to mask the illicit origin of funds.

The ED further stated that a significant portion of the cash deposits and purported “loans” were used by Kevin Patel for personal expenses such as hotel stays, shopping, and other lifestyle expenditures. During questioning, Kevin Patel reportedly attempted to explain these accommodation-related entries as loans; however, investigators found that these amounts were never repaid, strengthening the agency’s suspicion that the funds were proceeds of corruption.

Earlier in the case, the ED had issued a provisional attachment order to seize assets worth ₹3.77 crore belonging to Kevin Patel. The attached properties include commercial units and shops located in Mumbai, a plot of land, and a fixed deposit, all of which the agency believes were acquired using illegally generated money.

With the filing of the complaint before the Special PMLA Court, the case has entered the prosecution stage. The ED said further legal action will follow based on the court’s proceedings and the outcome of the trial.