The action targets properties linked to Yambem Biren and Narengbam Samarjit, who are under investigation for alleged anti-India activities.
BY PC Bureau
March 17: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹50.80 crore linked to the Salai Group of Companies and SMART Society as part of an ongoing money laundering and secessionist activity probe in Manipur, officials said on Tuesday.
The action, carried out by the ED’s Imphal Sub-Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), marks the third provisional attachment in the case. With earlier seizures included, the total value of attached assets now stands at ₹53.22 crore.
ED, Imphal Sub-Zonal Office has provisionally attached immovable and movable properties to the tune of Rs. 50.80 Crore pertaining to Salai Group of Companies, SMART Society and associated entities. The attached properties include balances lying in bank accounts as well as… pic.twitter.com/FKKOY4sVdu
— ED (@dir_ed) March 16, 2026
The attached assets comprise bank balances, 28 immovable properties, and five movable assets, including industrial units such as a rice mill, flour mill, edible oil refinery, and other business facilities.
The probe centres on alleged links between these assets and two individuals—Yambem Biren and Narengbam Samarjit—who describe themselves as leaders of a self-styled “Manipur State Council.” Both are facing investigation by multiple central agencies for alleged anti-India activities, including sedition and waging war against the state.
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According to investigators, the case stems from a 2019 event in London where the duo publicly declared Manipur’s “independence” and claimed to represent a government-in-exile. The announcement led to the registration of a case by Manipur Police, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Parallel financial investigations revealed that entities linked to the accused allegedly collected around ₹46.43 crore from the public through an unauthorised deposit scheme, promising high returns of up to 36% annually. Agencies allege the funds were routed through multiple companies, invested in assets, and partly used for unlawful activities.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a separate case in 2023 under provisions related to cheating and unregulated deposit schemes, and later filed a chargesheet confirming the alleged fraud.
ED officials said proceeds of crime were laundered through business investments, property purchases, and other expenditures, including foreign remittances and operational costs.
Earlier, in December 2025, the agency conducted searches at multiple locations in Imphal, seizing documents and assets linked to the case.
Officials added that further attachments and arrests are likely as the probe progresses, with agencies closely tracking financial trails, overseas links, and any potential connections between fundraising networks and activities deemed a threat to national security.
The investigation remains ongoing, with central agencies examining what they describe as a nexus between financial fraud and activities deemed prejudicial to national security.
