The Enforcement Directorate has achieved a historic milestone by conducting its first-ever auction of a seized aircraft under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the latest official statement, the agency successfully auctioned a Hawker 800A aircraft for ₹3 crore through MSTC Ltd. on July 1, 2026, marking a significant development in asset monetisation efforts linked to alleged money laundering cases. This represents the first instance in which the ED has disposed of a seized aircraft through a transparent public auction process, establishing a new precedent in India's anti-money laundering enforcement framework. The aircraft was seized during a search operation conducted by the ED's Hyderabad Zonal Office on March 20, 2025, at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Telangana's capital city, as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering activities against Amardeep Kumar, Capital Protection Force Pvt. Ltd. and others. As per PTI, the Hawker 800A aircraft was auctioned through Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Ltd. (MSTC), a government-owned e-commerce platform that regularly handles auctions of government assets and confiscated properties.
The aircraft was seized during a search operation conducted by the ED's Hyderabad Zonal Office on March 20, 2025, at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Telangana's capital city. The seizure was part of the ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering activities against Amardeep Kumar, Capital Protection Force Pvt. Ltd. and others. The Hawker 800A aircraft was auctioned through MSTC Ltd., ensuring proper documentation and transparency in the asset disposal process. The Adjudicating Authority confirmed the seizure on August 18, 2025, and the ED subsequently moved an application before the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering (Taking possession of attached or frozen properties confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2013, seeking permission to auction the asset, which was granted on November 20, 2025. The sale was conducted via MSTC Limited, with the ₹3 crore sale proceeds being used for restitution to genuine investors, subject to approval from the Special Court established under the anti-money laundering law.
The ED initiated its money laundering investigation based on three FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing, Cyberabad, against Hyderabad-based Capital Protection Force Pvt. Ltd., also known as Falcon Group, its CMD Amardeep Kumar and others. According to the agency, the accused allegedly defrauded investors of around ₹792 crore by operating a bogus invoice discounting scheme, promising high returns despite carrying out no genuine invoice discounting business. During the course of the investigation, the ED arrested Sandeep Kumar, brother of Amardeep Kumar, Sharad Chandra Toshniwal, a chartered accountant, and Aryan Singh Chhabra, CEO of Falcon Invoice Discounting. A prosecution complaint was filed before the jurisdictional court on September 29, 2025, with the agency also filing a charge sheet in this case in September last year. The underlying money laundering investigation against Amardeep Kumar, Capital Protection Force Pvt. Ltd., and others remains under judicial process, with the ED not disclosing further details regarding the allegations in the ongoing case.
In a significant development, the ₹3 crore recovered from the aircraft sale will be returned to affected investors as the investigation continues, marking a first-of-its-kind move in India where seized assets are directly returned to victims. The successful auction represents a significant step in the ED's asset recovery strategy, with the ₹3 crore sale consideration providing substantial returns from the seized aircraft. According to the official statement, the ₹3 crore realised from the sale would be utilised by the ED for restitution to the genuine investors in accordance with the provisions of the PMLA, subject to the leave of the Special Court established under the anti-money laundering law. The use of MSTC Ltd. as the auction platform ensures proper documentation and transparency in the asset disposal process, supporting the agency's efforts to recover proceeds of crime and deter future financial crimes. Recovering the value of seized assets is considered an important component of India's anti-money laundering regime, aimed at preventing proceeds of crime from losing value due to prolonged litigation or deterioration.
