LUCKNOW: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, on Wednesday began search operations at 14 premises under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of its investigation into alleged fraudulent toll collection at various toll plazas operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).The searches are being conducted at multiple locations across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Kolkata.The ED investigation stems from FIR No. 17 dated January 22, 2025, followed by ECIR No. ECIR/ASZO/04/2025 dated May 19, 2025. During the probe, the agency reportedly found evidence of unauthorised software being used to generate fraudulent toll receipts and divert toll collections outside the official accounting system.According to the ED, forensic examination of digital systems, along with records obtained from NHAI, confirmed the use of such unauthorised software at toll plazas.The search operations aim to recover digital and documentary evidence, identify individuals and entities who allegedly benefited from the diverted toll collections, and trace the proceeds of crime generated through the suspected fraudulent transactions.The ED is examining the financial trail and other aspects of the alleged irregularities as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation.
