IT Department Seizes Seven Properties of Sajju Kothari in Surat
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Surat has seized properties worth Rs. 4.21 crore belonging to infamous underworld operatives Sajid alias Sajju Gulam Mohammad Kothari and Allarakha Gulam Mustafa Sheikh, along with their family members and associates. These properties, including shops and flats, were seized after conducting raids and searches. The ED has issued demand notices for these properties, which were found undisclosed in their returns. Failure to disclose these properties may result in penalties being imposed after scrutiny by the ED and the Income Tax Department.
Last month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized temporarily assets worth Rs. 4.21 crore registered in the names of family members and associates of Sajid alias Sajju Gulam Mohammad Kothari and Allarakha Gulam Mustafa Sheikh. Sajid alias Sajju Gulam Mohammad Kothari, Allarakha Gulam Mustafa Sheikh, their family members, and associates are facing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. The case was filed on 26/03/2024. The Enforcement Directorate initiated an investigation based on 6 FIRs registered by the Surat Police against Sajju Kothari and others for charges including extortion, murder, kidnapping, robbery, loot, illegal possession of weapons, among others.
In the investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), it was found that assets worth Rs. 4.29 crore, under the Proceeds of Crime (PoC) category, were created by Sajid alias Sajju Kothari through extortion, murder, kidnapping, robbery, illegal possession of weapons, racketeering, laundering of assets, and other offenses. Sajid alias Sajju Gulam Mohammad Kothari, Allarakha Gulam Mustafa Sheikh, their family members, and associates’ 31 immovable properties have been seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for being acquired in an unlawful manner.
The Income Tax Department has taken action on more than 7 properties related to Sajid Kothari. The team of the Income Tax Department is gathering information about the associates and individuals who are benefiting from Sajid Kothari’s immovable properties. Among these, the Income Tax Department has seized three properties under benami assets and later handed over the investigation of Sajid Kothari’s properties to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Meanwhile, the Income Tax Department has taken action on more than 7 properties by attaching them.
Sajid Kothari had constructed a secret room in his house in Nanpura. There was much terror in Sajid’s area in Surat. He even threatened senior police officials. Two years ago, on March 26, 2022, Sajid Kothari was caught from the same house. Kothari had built a secret room in Nanpura’s Jamrukh Gali, from where the police apprehended him.
Complaints were filed, including land grabbing, and crimes were noted under various sections of the law. Notorious accused Sajid Kothari had illegally constructed an RCC gate on government land and encroached upon 7520 square meters of government land. He had also erected gates on roads, closing off access to public areas, and stationed security guards towards the Bahar Mohalla side. A complaint was lodged with the Collector based on which the Superintendent of Police’s Crime Branch noted the complaint, including land grabbing.
