Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at five place of Virar-based Viva Group, which is owned by Thakur family. One of the family members, Kshitij Thakur is MLA from Nallasopara. His uncle, Bhai Thakur, is a former gangster.
Sources said that Viva Group received Rs 200 crore from tainted Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), key accused in the PMC Bank fraud.
ED’s raids were still under way at three locations in Virar and two in Mumbai.
It is alleged that HDIL promoters Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and his son Sarang Wadhawan, then PMC Bank chairman Waryam Singh and its managing director Joy Thomas, and others had caused a loss of Rs 4,355 crore to the PMC Bank and making gains for themselves. HDIL took loan from the bank with the help of forged documents. Afterward HDIL had siphoned off the money with the help of fictitious transaction. ED official suspect that Viva Group had helped HDIL in money laundering.
Viva Group is involved into construction, travel, education, retail and logistic business. It is stated that Thakur family have influence in most of the business activities in Vasai-Virar-Palghar belt.