Amitabh, Amar Singh accused of Rs.500 crore scam

LUCKNOW - Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh have been accused of involvement in a Rs.500 crore money laundering scam, according to a complaint lodged with Kanpur police.

Lodged by local businessman Shivkant Tripathi late Thursday, the first information report has charged the two well-known faces, who are close friends, of being involved in a major fraud through money laundering.

“The complainant has accused Amar Singh of floating half a dozen companies in which 43 companies were amalmagated allegedly with the intent of siphoning off tonnes of black money,” Uttar Pradesh’s additional director general of police Brij Lal told reporters here Friday.

“Amitabh Bachchan figures among the key stake holders in most of the companies, while Amar Singh’s wife Pankaja Singh is shown as a partner,” he said.

According to Lal, “The companies, mostly registered in Kolkata, were identified as Eastern India Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Sarvottam Pvt Ltd, Pankaja Art and Credit Pvt Ltd, EDCL Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, EDCL Powers Ltd and Energy Development Company.”

Cases were registered under the Money Laundering Act as well as Prevention of Corruption Act.

“The provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act could be invoked in view of Amar Singh’s then appointment as chairman of the UP Development Council,” the official said.

While complainant Tripathi could not be contacted, cops were not sure how they would proceed with the case.

“A case of fraud has been registered with the Babupurwa police station and only after preliminary investigations are done will we be in a position to affirmatively comment on the actual extent of the alleged fraud,” he pointed out.