Short-staffed ED seeks more time for Vijay Mallya

It will take a few more days for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to attach the property of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya, said ED officials. As there are very few staff available and the investigation being underway for other major cases, it is difficult to make quick progress in all cases at the same time, added the officials.

According to ED officials, the staff is already overworked. “We have only 25 employees working in Mumbai ED office and its difficult to send them out for investigation, nab culprits and do the paper work all at the same time. We therefore need more time. We have requested senior officials for more staff but to no avail and this hampers examination.”

Speaking about the progress in Mallya’s case, an ED official said under the condition of anonymity, “The ED officials have conducted a search in Mallya’s properties and are already in the process to identify and value his properties countrywide under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). We will soon attach the property.”

According to the ED officials, around properties worth '9,000 crore is likely to be attached soon.