ED seizes Rs 3.97 crore cash, gold worth Rs 3.45 crore in Chouksey Group raids

BHOPAL: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized cash worth Rs 3.97 crore and gold jewellery valued at Rs 3.45 crore after conducting searches at 12 locations linked to the Chouksey Group in Bhopal in connection with an alleged money laundering case involving the Shri Astha Foundation for Education Society.The searches, carried out on June 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covered residences, offices, educational institutions, trusts, business establishments and a bank locker linked to the accused and associated entities.The ED launched its probe on the basis of an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhopal against Jaynarayan Chouksey and others for alleged large-scale financial fraud involving the misappropriation and diversion of funds belonging to the Shri Astha Foundation for Education Society.According to the ED, the society, which runs several educational and healthcare institutions, was controlled by members of the Chouksey family and their associates.Investigators alleged that money collected through students' fees, scholarship grants and bank loans obtained in the society's name was diverted to related trusts, companies and other entities controlled by the accused.During the searches, the agency seized mobile phones, digital devices, ERP and Tally data, financial records, property documents and other incriminating material.

Documents relating to immovable properties were also recovered.The case has been under judicial scrutiny since last year. In October 2025, a single bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court refused to quash the EOW FIR against the Astha Society.In their petition, the office-bearers of the Indore-based society argued that it is a private body registered under the MP Society Registration Act, 1973, receives no government grants, and has been run by elected office-bearers since its formation in 2007.They also claimed the dispute stemmed from an internal conflict that began in 2016 over restricting elections to life members of the society.The petitioners further contended that the complainants had earlier made similar allegations which were rejected by the EOW, and that the fresh FIR was registered without giving them an opportunity to present their version.The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court.The ED said its investigation found evidence of money laundering beyond the issues raised in the original FIR.Further investigation is underway.